HouseLancaster

That WAS the other but too - if Rickon dies??? Then would they need Jon for the Stark name?

But if Sanaa isn't a Queen and marries, what then for her Stark name?? We're talking in terms of whether there would be any need for Bran to legit Jon as a Stark if the only Stark's left are the gals

IF Rickon dies though - Sansa and Arya would be married off to other Houses right (IF they were to marry)? That would certainly carry on the line but not the Stark name ...I might be confusing this with modern marriage, and the bigger House actually takes president(??) In truth I see Ayra more likely to marry than Sansa, which I suppose wouldn't bode well... always thought George's plan was to role reverse their destinies; the girl who dreams of marrying a prince ends up a loner, and the Stark who wanted to be a warrior gets the love story (I guess with a prince of sorts if it's Gendry) and ends up a Lady.

This is a really nice summing up/ evaluation and along the lines of what I think. If Sansa does take power in the Vale, what you think to Bran legitimising Jon to carry on the Stark name in Winterfell (can he even breed?) as Warden of the North? I still also half suspect Jorah will be the 2,000 commander at Castle Black - I can imagine people thinking all this is a little to neat at this stage though.

Ahhh you might have read my message and thought I'm for everything that happened in the show to be so in the book. I'm not. I can see King Bran, Dany's madness and Jon ending her being so though - but happening in a totally different more logical way. At the end of the day you can make arguments fore/against every character being accepted in a position of power until you're blue in the face. It's all about how Martin lays out the plot and turn of events. One of the sad things about GOT is that we still (really) have no idea how the story is going to unfold (because what the show did was incomprehensible). The small council at the end of GOT I largely think is folly though.

I agree. That's the key part isn't it - IF it's told properly. Should the Starks WIN the thrown it would be difficult for anyone in that society to question Bran being named (they'd not long before accepted Joffrey and Tommen). Also the show runners couldn't work out/imagine what to do with any of the magical elements of the show - which badly effected the Bran and the 'great war'.

The only story beats I can see being Martin's at this point, are; Bran - King (but as Bran!), maybe Tyrion as Hand too Dany's apparent madness Jon killing Dany Asha - lady of Iron Islands, but that's an easy one, and Brienne - Kingsguard In book 6 I figured; Jon, Asha and co would conquer the North, Sansa would gain influence/control over the Vale, then there's the Brotherhood in the Riverlands and they all converge around the Twins. To cut a long story short, by the end the fAegon, Dany, Cersei situation is resolved, Bran plays an integral role in defeating the Others and the Starks take/save the 7 Kingdoms. Bran being the oldest male of the House is named King. After which, Bran legitimises Jon (the Stark name needs to be carried on), he wardens the North and Sansa ends up either Lady of Riverun or the Vale (Warden of the West?). Arya will retain her humanity, grow up (like her Aunt did) - maybe rules Stormlands with Gendry? And I can still see Jorah being the 1000's commander of the Nightswatch. Bronn gets nothing, Sam is not Grand Meistser and the major southern Houses are still in tact. As a rule, I just think the characters arcs will progress, and their final positions will be won/earned - unlike in the show.

Maybe it'll just be the news of her brothers that will prompt her to leave...

Soz if already discussed... Does anyone know what that note said that Arya had, and why she suddenly ran off? Where were we supposed to think she was going? She said she was going to the armery, was that to share with Gendry further details of her day or was she in fact going to give Jaquen her 2nd kill, if so, who would it have been?

Best episode thus far, and no sex too!