Yara's Attack on the Dreadfort [Book Spoilers All]

[Lord of the Twins]

A common complaint that I have heard on this forum is that Yara's attack on the Dreadfort to get Theon will just detract from other stories since it is completely invented.

I disagree that this story is completely made up. Rather, there is a plotline in ADWD that has no equivalent currently in the show: The Ironborn in Moat Cailin. Since the show has no Victarion, and therefore no Ironborn in Moat Cailin, Roose Bolton is currently unopposed on his journey north, which means Reek's first time using the name Theon again cannot occur yet.

I believe that YarAsha's force will be in the way of Roose Bolton's army, and Theon goes to negotiate with them and gets them to surrender, and Ramsay flays them. YarAsha herself will have to be somewhere else when this happens, whether Stannis's prisoner already or going somewhere else, perhaps a Kingsmoot.

Asha's men=50 Flayed Ironborn (not 63)

[Feliciano69]

Yara's attack on the Dreadfort is a brilliant storyline, screw the purists.

It's consistent with her declaration of love to Theon back when the latter took Winterfell, and it's obvious that in grand Song Of Ice And Fire tradition, she will fail spectacularly; what should be interesting is what will happen in-between the new storyline and Stannis' campaign on the north.

Most likely, I think she will arrive on the coast and be defeated by another northern lord, which will keep her as a prisoner until Stannis arrives and the story sort-of merges again with the events of the book, maybe it's the Stannis fanboy in me but I'm seeing the Iron Islands split between Daenerys and Stannis in a possible future.

[Nezzer]

I like the way that storyline is going, but I don't want her to be captured by Stannis just yet. I still want to see the Kingsmoot some day. What I'm hoping for is her crew sneaking inside the Dreadfort and finding Theon, with one of the guys saying "your sister sent me", just like Ramsay. Theon thinks it's a trap and starts to scream and Ramsay arrives with many guards, driving the Ironborn out of the Dreadfort. Ramsay proceeds to roll on the floor laughing like a maniac and Yara retreats to Deepwood Motte.

[Aerys Ahai Reborn]

Since the show has no Victarion, and therefore no Ironborn in Moat Cailin,

Not necessarily so. IIRC, Balon specifically mentions taking Moat Cailin to control the Neck.

And the show has mentioned the Greyjoy uncles (plural) before, and they just don't have Victarion yet because they haven't wanted to cast him for one scene in season 2 when he won't have much until season 5.

[DaveyJoe]

Ramsay proceeds to roll on the floor laughing like a maniac and Yara retreats to Deepwood Motte.

I don't think I want to see Ramsay literally ROFL.

[Queen of Whores]

Unless she plans on doing some sort of infiltration of the Dreadfort, I don't see how Yara can take it with fifty men. It's meant to be a pretty defensible castle, at least in the books. Since it would be really pointless to just have Yara sail to the main land only to get news of Balon's death and turn back around to go back for the Kingsmoot. I want the Kingsmoot in the show, and for Yara to be there for it, but it seems unlikely at this point. So I think it's likely that Yara will continue with her little quest.

What I hope they do is introduce Victarion early in season 5. They could have him already be at Moat Cailin, and give a quick bit of exposition about Moat Cailin and what he's doing there. They could have a raven arrive saying Balon's dead, and Victarion telling one of his men to defend Moat Cailin while he's gone. This doesn't seem like it would be too confusing or hard to do.

I think it's likely that Yara will get captured by Stannis earlier, although I hope that isn't the case. It will be kind of weird to have Yara at the Wall. Although since it's incredibly unlikely they include Deepwood Motte in the show, even though it was namedropped in 2x3 and 3x4, I don't see an alternative.

[joachim]

I just don't understand why so many people want to see the Kingsmoot. It was utterly pointless.

[Blutraven]

I just don't understand why so many people want to see the Kingsmoot. It was utterly pointless.

It's a great way to introduce us to the Ironborn properly.

[Stan the Man Baratheon]

I just don't understand why so many people want to see the Kingsmoot. It was utterly pointless.

It was one of the best chapters in AFFC.

[titanx5]

A common complaint that I have heard on this forum is that Yara's attack on the Dreadfort to get Theon will just detract from other stories since it is completely invented.

I disagree that this story is completely made up. Rather, there is a plotline in ADWD that has no equivalent currently in the show: The Ironborn in Moat Cailin. Since the show has no Victarion, and therefore no Ironborn in Moat Cailin, Roose Bolton is currently unopposed on his journey north, which means Reek's first time using the name Theon again cannot occur yet.

I believe that YarAsha's force will be in the way of Roose Bolton's army, and Theon goes to negotiate with them and gets them to surrender, and Ramsay flays them. YarAsha herself will have to be somewhere else when this happens, whether Stannis's prisoner already or going somewhere else, perhaps a Kingsmoot.

Asha's men=50 Flayed Ironborn (not 63)

I agree Asha men=Flayed Ironborn of Moat Caitlin

they wont have a kingmoot,I would prefer they save that time and money for something else. They will just make us here in the absence of Yara being captured her evil crazy uncle Euron is now on the Seastone chair. He may hear people mentioning Euron, but will only see him in s5. Have the feeling that they may combine the uncles into jst one being Euron, but hope 2 see both. But dont think we will hear or see Aeron. Only Vic and Euron, perhaps only Euron

[Stan the Man Baratheon]

I agree Asha men=Flayed Ironborn of Moat Caitlin

they wont have a kingmoot,I would prefer they save that time and money for something else. They will just make us here in the absence of Yara being captured her evil crazy uncle Euron is now on the Seastone chair. He may hear people mentioning Euron, but will only see him in s5. Have the feeling that they may combine the uncles into jst one being Euron, but hope 2 see both. But dont think we will hear or see Aeron. Only Vic and Euron, perhaps only Euron

Ah yes there has been a rumour that both Euron and Victarion would be merged into one single character.

[boojam]

The Gendry and AshaYara invented (unknown at this time for season 4) story lines makes sense at this point in the visual narrative.

The thing that gives me the brain flip is what-the-hell are they?!

Having Gendry and Yara appear last season was no surprise, after all in each case they were gone from the page in SoS , well actually Gendry longer than Asha in the books.

So I figured they would do some reasonable integration of Gendry's storyline in season 4...

When I saw Gemma Whelan in the last episode of season 3 I thought ... well D and D were thinking "there you go unsullied show watchers" some other Ironborn are around.

But her mission , whew!, how are they gonna work that? It's one of the most bumfuzzling aspects of season 4.

I say that because Kingsmoot is one of those delicious sequences that D and D seem to favor they need AshaYara for that...., so far they have keep my favorite moments and even added a clever punch, not in the book, to one (in the Dracarys scene season 3).

We sullied know a lot happens at Kings Landing, Arya's story and especially The Wall ...those need little messaging... but how the Essos stuff will be arranged (methinks that the major one)... AshaYara...Gendry... I can't guess.

[Razha]

I suspect that Asha's mission will somehow fail and she will end up being keptive of Ramsey, so Theon might escape with her instead of Jayne Pool (The entire fake arya storiline can be aborted) - Bolton and supporters just gather in the Winterfell for strategic reasons - so Asha and Theon end up there end escape together.

As to the Kingsmot

- it is eaither cut from the story - Euron just kills balon and names himself new king (I don't like this option but it is totally possible)

or

- Kingsmot is held but without Asha

[DaveyJoe]

I just don't understand why so many people want to see the Kingsmoot. It was utterly pointless.

The books are largely composed of political maneuvering among the different cultures of Essos and Westeros. The Kingsmoot introduces the audience to the culture and political motivations of the Ironborn. It shows how people as doltish as the Greyjoys are able to manipulate/lead the rest of the Ironborn, I mean even Victarion shows some cunning in this scene by waiting as long as possible before making his claim. It also establishes how far and above Euron is in terms of cunning and sheer ambition in comparison to the other Greyjoys, and the Ironborn in general. It is the scene that establishes him as a villain not just to the North, but to the entire world.

[The Dragon has three heads]

Yara's attack on the Dreadfort is a brilliant storyline, screw the purists.

It's consistent with her declaration of love to Theon back when the latter took Winterfell, and it's obvious that in grand Song Of Ice And Fire tradition, she will fail spectacularly; what should be interesting is what will happen in-between the new storyline and Stannis' campaign on the north.

Most likely, I think she will arrive on the coast and be defeated by another northern lord, which will keep her as a prisoner until Stannis arrives and the story sort-of merges again with the events of the book, maybe it's the Stannis fanboy in me but I'm seeing the Iron Islands split between Daenerys and Stannis in a possible future.

No.

That plot(as yet) makes no sense at all.

She's going to sail ALL THE WAY AROUND westeros to get to the dreadfort? Riiiight...

[Aerys Ahai Reborn]

Ah yes there has been a rumour that both Euron and Victarion would be merged into one single character.

Isn't that "rumor" just fan speculation? I don't remember ever seeing anything put out by the producers/writers/etc to suggest it.

[Nezzer]

Isn't that "rumor" just fan speculation? I don't remember ever seeing anything put out by the producers/writers/etc to suggest it.

Just speculation. Many people like to turn speculation into rumor. Happens a lot on /r/asoiaf

[YTDN]

Just speculation. Many people like to turn speculation into rumor. Happens a lot on /r/asoiaf

Yeah, things go from speculation to rumour to "Oh my god I can't believe D&D are going to have [insert ridiculous theory here]! Fuck this show!'.

Until things actually happen in the show, trust nothing.

[joachim]

Here's the Kingsmoot in a nutshell. 1) Balon dies. 2) Euron takes the crown. 3) Aeron calls the Kingsmoot. 4) The Kingsmoot gives Euron the crown. It would be one thing if it were the only way the Ironborn chose their king. Instead, they legitimized Euron's coup. It was all just a waste of time.

As far as merging Euron and Victarion, Tyrion referred to Theon's uncles in "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things." Also, depending on where the Ironborn plotline is going, it might not be possible to merge them.

[Ser Tahu]

Here's the Kingsmoot in a nutshell. 1) Balon dies. 2) Euron takes the crown. 3) Aeron calls the Kingsmoot. 4) The Kingsmoot gives Euron the crown. It would be one thing if it were the only way the Ironborn chose their king. Instead, they legitimized Euron's coup. It was all just a waste of time.

That's like saying that Tyrion's trial by combat is a waste of time because without it he would be found guilty anyway. It isn't pointless because it ADDS DRAMA in a DRAMA tv series :P. The same thing goes for the people saying that Quentyn should be cut because his scheme fails; it adds a lot of drama to a drama tv series.