Lady Fishbiscuit

Still wondering about Theons ultimate fate/purpose. With Jaime finally leaving Cersei and going north to join the heroes and Theon heading off to rescue Yara, is there a chance that Theon could end up being the valonqar? What do you guys think? They keep having him referred to as 'Little Theon'. I'm not completely sold on this theory but I did wonder after this episode. (PS do we know if Yara is being held in kingslanding or on Euron's ship?)

I think this is entirely plausible and don't get why people think it's too cheesy or obvious or whatever. Cat & Ned married out of duty, Cersei and Robert married out of duty and alliance of houses, Sansa was promised to Joffrey for the same reason, Margaery married the Baratheon princes for personal gain and they married her to shore up their support in Westeros etc. etc. Robb ditched duty and married out of love and look where that got him. Point is, in the big houses that's more commonly the reason why you marry someone. Dany is already aware of this, having been married/given to Drogo and later agreeing to marry the awful Hizdahr in Meereen. It's the reason she left behind Daario. I think it's likely they will marry in the show and in the book too, there is foreshadowing all over the place for it, but I believe it will be a short marriage and Jon will die before the end as he is very much the tragic hero and is all about sacrificing himself for the greater good.

My thoughts... I've missed Bronn! Hope he's not about to die. Maybe he'll switch allegiances to Team Tyrion again. Awesome, awesome dragon and Dothraki action. Field of flames #2. That noise the dragons make before the flames come gives me chills every time! Are the Tarleys dead and why has Randyl Tarley made no mention whatsoever of Sam stealing his VS Sword? More great comedy and timing from Davos; he's so much better than book Davos. I think he is seriously considering retirement in Naath when this is all over. Loved all the astronomical symbols in the caves and immediately thought "please let @LmL do something on this! (Which he's now said he will - hurrah!) Is that the last we'll see of Meera? Was there a double meaning in how crap it is that she's just leaving without so much as a party bag after everything she's done (leaving Winterfell / leaving the show). I get that her and Jojen's mission was just to get Bran to the 3eR/3eC but I hope we see her again, preferably along with her dad. "Chaos is a ladder" was great! LFs face! Loved all things Arya. Team Stark remainers are almost all together! Yay! Arya vs Brienne made me think about how people underestimate Brienne all the time (like Jaime did) and now she's done the same with Arya. I agree with some that a skinny blade swung one-handed probably couldn't stop a large one swung 2-handed by a much stronger person, but I'm sure Brienne was going easy on her for most of it. It didn't make it any less enjoyable for me. Arya's training may not have been years-long, but it was seriously intensive. Nobody blinded Brienne or beat her with a big stick all day until she got better. Plus Arya uses her size and speed to her advantage and whatever faceless mind-zen stuff 'no-one' taught her. Was Sansa looking sad watching Arya fighting because she realised she has no way to defend herself apart from with other people? Maybe she'll ask Arya for some training. LF looks increasingly worried by the Stark kids. I reckon his next move is to try to get on team Targ. Hopefully Varys and/or Tyrion will nip that in the bud. I don't see LF dying... he's like the cockroach after the nuclear war... Why did Bran give away the dagger when he knows it can kill white walkers? Is it because he knows arya will need valyrian steel to defend herself? Is he able to overcome white walkers some other way? Tyrion's sad face during the battle. I assumed it's because he was sad/worried for Jaime, but after seeing next week's trailer it seems it is also because he doesn't agree with what Dany is doing. When Jamie went in the water I thought - please don't resurrect him as Jamie Stoneheart, that would be dreadful. I don't think they will but who knows? I hope he is rescued, captured and gets to have an overdue chat with Tyrion. Jon & Dany - looking very likely that a marriage is going to be proposed by someone. I wonder if they'll find out before or afterwards that she's his aunt? Looking forward to that revelation! Maybe it will actually make her see him as an equal and stop asking him to bend the F-ing knee! and lastly... with high-profile characters not needed for the endgame being killed off at a steady rate, it's clear that Theon still has a part to play, but what?

Interesting notion! I haven't read Dune but I see what you're getting at. I wonder if Bran knows what he's supposed to do and how he fits into all of it.

Or let's just agree that I think something and you think something else and it's all down to different perspectives rather than right and wrong? Not buying into anything, the book and show are different things and I'm enjoying them separately on their own merits. Maybe book-Bran will come across as less of an asshole or maybe his behaviour will be better explained with the benefit of hundreds of pages. When he met Benjen he didn't actually say much. A normal response would have been "oh uncle Benjen, I'm so glad you're alive(ish)! And you saved us! *hugs*. Oh you've no idea what we've been through... this is my best friend Meera, I'd be dead without her... Do you know about father and mother? And Rob? And little baby Rickon? It's so sad... *weeps*...". Ok, so he may be less close to Benjen if he was mostly at the wall with the occasional visit, so it may be more noticeable with people he should be closer with like his sisters. Poor Meera probably spent too much time dragging him around in a semi conscious state to notice how much he was changing, so it was really only noticeable when he didn't react to her leaving. I think they're trying to show that he's so full of info finding it hard to sort through what's 'him' and what's 'everything else', so meeting people, even family members, just throws up random visions and memories which he just says. Thats just what I think and you're welcome to your own opinion.

That's a really good point. Maybe littlefinger's weird speech was just foreshadowing how Bran would help her / the North / the realm. If Sansa uses Bran's knowledge, then she'll be one step ahead of everyone (except Bran, obvs.). As well as knowing what people are doing, she'll also be able to get insider info on what makes people tick. Same for Jon & Dany when they all join forces. Although I suppose it's what they do with the knowledge that matters most. As Bran will have seen what happened in the last long night, he should be able to give good counsel as well as info. Hand of the king in the north? It's interesting to see how emotionally detached he's becoming, now that he's seen 'everything'. I know a lot of people didn't like this, but I think it makes sense. He must be completely overloaded, like someone who is extremely high-functioning multiplied by a billion and he's still only a child. That would surely change you considerably. Plus, his focus and purpose is now on saving the world and stopping the long night, which will make the family reunions seem less of a huge thing compared to the big picture. Yes, wedding speech was pretty creepy, but was a clear way to show Sansa that everything means 'everything' and he's probably still not mastered the balance between knowing everything and being a dick. His training was pretty limited and cut short after all.

Yes! That would be hilarious!

Arya has a habit of not ending up where she planned to go. Trying to get to Winterfell she ended up at Harrenhal and then Braavos (among other places). Maybe she'll run into The Hound & Beric again. I'm hoping Gendry ends up with them. They might even tell her Jon and Sansa are at Winterfell, causing her to change course. If Nymeria turns up and hangs out with her it might give away who she is but also remind her of her roots and turn her back to Winterfell. I could be wrong though. It's fun to speculate who she'd disguise herself as in Kingslanding!!

Also Old English wella, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wel and German Welle ‘a wave’. Made me think of LmL's waves of night . Well can also refer to an underground spring or a fountain.

Fantastic episode, I couldn't take my eyes off it. Not a huge fan of battle scenes in general but that was gripping. It was dirty and noisy and horrifying and hard to know who was on which side at times, like a real battle rather than some romantic notion of one. The charging horses were beautiful and ominous. The piled up bodies made me think of the army of the dead pouring over the walls at Hardhome - I really hope they burn them all before the cold winds come. The slow creeping crush of Jon's men as the flayed men shields moved in closer and closer until they could barely breathe. Even the usually fearless Tormond looked panicked. Brilliant. I am worried that there are a lot fewer people left at the Wall and in the North in general to face the incoming army of the dead. Sansa's smile as Ramsay got his comeuppance was great. I don't think Sansa is evil and scheming as some have said, she is just trying to survive while also dealing with the rape and torture she suffered at Ramsay's hands; and this is after having lost her wolf, seeing her father executed, being mistreated by the Lannisters, used and betrayed by LF and hearing of her mother and siblings being murdered. That would definitely have a huge impact on her mentally and emotionally, but if she was truly cold and heartless she wouldn't have forgiven Theon, she'd have had Brienne kill him. I was convinced that the Umbers, at least, would change sides at the last minute, but alas, no. I was really really disappointed in the Smalljon and glad when Tormond killed him. I hope it goes down differently in the book. As a few others said, I didn't see Harald Karstark meet his end, so I assume he's still alive. If I remember rightly, Littlefinger was offered Warden Of The North by Cersei on the condition that he got rid of the Boltons. For one terrible moment, when the new banners unfurled at Winterfell I thought they might be Littlefinger or Vale banners. Phew! Be interesting to see what his next play is - I'm assuming he will try to turn Sansa against Jon by convincing her he is a threat to her succession. He may try to marry her or get her to marry Robin to secure more power in the Vale. Whatever he does, I really really hope she tells him to fuck off. Meereen was satisfying progress at last - Dany ended the seige and now has her ships and her vast army for the voyage to Westeros. The dragons were amazing as always ne we got a 'Dracarys!'. Dany & Yara's whole "sisters are doin it for themselves" thing made me smile. Not sure how the Iron Islanders will survive if they can't reave anymore - but I'm assuming that's something to worry about another time. Maybe they'll all become ship builders and sell those , Up til now I've not been a fan of the 'Cersei unleashes wildfire on KL' theory, but even I have to admit that there have been a LOT of mentions of wildfire caches all over the place. Could be ice and fire next week with the parallel tales of KL and the approaching army of WW in the North. Like a lot of people, I am wondering where Ghost is. Ghost has always been more elusive than the other direwolves and, even in the books, he goes missing for considerable periods of time but has a knack of turning up when he's needed. He would have certainly died if he'd been in that battle, so I'm glad he wasn't. Maybe he didn't come to Winterfell with Jon as he is going to help Bran next week back at the wall. Maybe he and Jon are not as connected as they were following his death & resurrection. Who knows?

Loved Sam finding his balls and making off with Heartsbane! I wondered did he suddenly realise that his father would treat Gilly and little Sam the way he treated big Sam? Also, I'm sure Dickon sniggering at the idea of Sam killing a white walker is what made him want the sword - why should that idiot inherit it just to hang it on a wall, while men of the nights watch need good steel? I am delighted to see Benjen back, although I am still hoping that, in the book, Coldhands will be Coldhands and Benjen will be Benjen. Bran now seems to know everything or is fast approaching it. Does he also contain the spirit of Bloodraven or is he just the 'new' 3 eyed Raven? Margaery totally has a plan and I reckon it's about saving Loras. Tommen is completely oblivious (like a junior Mace Tyrrell). The high sparrow could be on to her but playing along to get the crown on side for now, because it suits his plans. It definitely looked like she hadn't expected a rescue party. I'm sure Lady Oleanna will be in on the plan before long though, even if Jamie & Cersei are pushed out. I really hope TV Kevan gets what's coming to him soon. Interesting that Arya was sympathetic to Cersei in the play. Another one to be removed from the list? I am looking forward to a final Arya/waif showdown. Maybe Arya will go back to the house of black & white wearing the Waif's face and kill Jaq'en! I don't care if the direwolf cgi budget was sacrificed to pay for Drogon (although I don't believe that only direwolves can pay for dragons), he's a massive dragon FFS!! Great to see him back. We just need a dragon reunion now with the other 2. I'll be pissed if they kill of Nymeria and Ghost though. As we know, things NEVER go according to plans and I think Dany's plans will change when she gets towards Westeros and finds its being beseiged by white walkers. Just as Stannis changed his plan and attempted to win over the 7 kingdoms by saving them from the real threat from beyond the wall, I think so too will Dany. I thought it was another great episode. It's never going to be a patch on the books because TV never is, but I'm really enjoying it regardless.

Me too!

Interesting that Brienne is being placed back to where her current storyline is in the books. There must be something important still to happen there, hopefully with the brotherhood without banners whose story seems unfinished in the show, even without Lady SH. I did wonder if they'd combine the stories and have Brienne become Lady SH to avenge the Starks. I hope not. Maybe she'll get Jaime to join the brotherhood once Cersei's prophecy plays out.

I need to watch again, but I thought that Meera was trying to wake Bran from the vision/trance because they needed him to skinchange Hodor to fight and run from the attackers. Bran has skinchanged him every time they've had a scary conflict situation on their journey (Queenscrown tower, Craster's & outside the cave) as he's too afraid to deal with this type of thing, and we know now why. I think either (1) Bran accidentally made some kind of a link between past Hodor/Wyllis and present Hodor which caused Hodor/Wyllis to be permanently traumatised at the realisation he had heard his own death or (2) he broke Wyllis mentally by skinchanging him (a big no no with humans in the books) and at the same time, Wyllis could hear what Bran could hear, which was Meera screaming "hold the door", and it stuck. I'm hoping this bit in the book will have more in-depth explanation, but there's only so much you can to on TV without giving someone a big long monologue to explain it.

I thought it was a great episode. Big reveals on WW origins and Hodor's name. Took me a while to get my head around the Bran/Hodor time loop but it makes sense. This is how I understood it... Bloodraven realised their time was almost up once the nights King had found Bran, so he had to pass on as much knowledge as he could before Bran left. The knowledge is the key to Bran saving the world and this is why Bloodraven and Bran were locked in to the weirnet throughout the attack - Bran needed the knowledge to survive and fulfil his destiny, so he had to take the risk and count on the Children, Meera and Hodor protecting Bran. Bloodraven also knew he had to take Bran to the point in time where they broke Hodor's mind in order to get them back to this point. Without that happening, Hodor wouldn't have been Bran's legs after his fall, he wouldn't have been there to protect Bran on his journey north, Bran wouldn't have been able to skin change him, Bran, in short, would never have made it to Bloodraven. A lot of people commenting that it was all pointless, but I think we'll see later that it was all completely necessary for Bran to get there and to gain the knowledge in order to overcome whatever happens next. This could literally save the world. It's heartbreaking what happened to Hodor - I actually cried when I realised the significance of 'hold the door' - but I am consoling myself with the fact that he was a hero who saved Bran multiple times and played a pivotal role. This will be shown as even more important in the events to come. If things had been different, Wyllis the stableboy would have died another time in another way without anyone taking much notice. I'm not saying that makes it alright, I'm just saying that his life and death had meaning and purpose. Varys being unnerved by the Meereen red priestess was very interesting. What was the name in the fire??!! I wonder what she knows about Jon too. Arya and the theatre was very moving. Nice Richard E Grant appearance! Not nice warty knob, but a suitable response to the whingebag complaints of gratuitous nudity I was unsure about LF meeting Sansa & Brienne by himself - very risky for someone so calculating! She could have brought anyone! I wondered if he'd chosen molestown because he could hide some reinforcements there if things got nasty. I don't believe him at all about the Blackfish. I think he's just trying to get all the big houses, Starks included, to take each other down and then take what's left for himself. He'll probably end up as Margaery's next husband . Now Brienne is off to the river lands, im hoping we'll see the Brotherhood again... maybe Gendry will finally resurface! Seems like they are combining Euron and Victarion into one character. He doesn't look like Euron is described but if it's a combined character rather than 100% Evil Euron then that doesn't matter much. I did wonder if they cast an actor with a resemblance to Alfie Allen because he was going to turn out to be Theon's real father. Well, he did sleep with Victarion's woman in the book... On a lighter note... Did Euron remind anyone else of Lord Flashheart from Blackadder? Surely it can't be just me!

Anyone else think it's significant that in this episode we had both these things happen... Dany's small council back in Meereen find out that the Harpy attacks are being supported / funded by Astapor, Yunkai and Volantis (well, according to Varys anyway). Dany finds out that the Khalassars are having a conference to decide which cities will be on this year's sacking list. Maybe Varys' little birds network could get word to Dany to get the Khals to combine the two lists (once they are all impressed by Drogon).

You've hit the nail on the head! I hadn't worked out why it felt a bit underwhelming at the same time as being shocking, but that's it. It would be like finding out Walder Frey had died comfortably in his sleep.

Totally agree! I thought at first that Roose killed Ramsay too, now that he had his new heir. I did a full 5 season rewatch before this series too. Was really surprised how much I'd missed or forgotten! I'm doing a book re-read too but that is taking longer than I thought and I'm just finishing book 3. Book 2 for me is a bit of an effort to get through, but some great nuggets of detail and foreshadowing in there too. Like you, I'm enjoying them both as 2 separate entities. It's interesting to see what they change - I think some of the characters come across much better on TV (Sansa, Davos & Bronn especially) and I like the Tyrion/Varys and Jaime/Bronn pairings. There are always going to be changes or differences people don't like, but I don't envy the writers trying to condense that much detail and make it work for a TV viewer. I know I couldn't do it! I'm really enjoying the show so far and am beyond excited for ToJ next week. I think Jon's resurrection has more to give in next week's ep when the rest of Castle Black see him. I'd love to see Thorne's reaction!! It's still not really clear why Davos is helping Jon, so I hope they cover that too.

And lo, along came the extended Greyjoy family to fill the void

I get the feeling that Ramsay thinks he has the Umbers, Katstarks and (was the 3rd one the Manderleys?) in the bag, which gives him the balance of power in the North. In reality, I think those houses are playing along in a Northern plot to overthrow the Boltons. A Karstark, who has reason to hate the Starks, is well placed to convince Ramsay, but Roose would always be sceptical. They need to get rid of Roose, but how? If Ramsay believes that he has got all he needs from Roose and Roose is only going to hold him back from controlling the North, then killing Roose would appeal to him too. Ramsay has been legitimised and Roose has publicly stated that Ramsay is his firstborn and heir. If Roose is dead, he can't take it back, he can't belittle Ramsays plans and he can't call the shots. Ramsay is able to get close enough to Roose to kill him. Ramsay killing him rather than one of the other northerners makes them all still seem to be on Ramsay's side and makes him feel in control. They would also let Walda be sacrificed, with her being a Frey. Ramsay will be a lot easier for them to overthrow without Roose in the picture. I agree that it's a shame to see Roose go. He's a really interesting character in both book and show and well cast.