Hos the Hostage

Either of them could also sniff out JonCon's secret and use it as leverage.

Loras captured Dragonstone, not Storm's End.

It is possible that Harys Swyft left shortly after Kevan's death. There is no reason for Cersei to stop them from following Kevan's orders to negotiate with Braavos. I'm sure the queen in question in Cersei, because Margaery does not have a reputation for asking for people's heads be chopped off. As Harys and his soldiers saw it, there was going to be a trial by combat where Cersei's champion is the (undead) Ser Robert Strong, who looks more invincible than (alive) Gregor Clegane. Naturally, they assume that faith's champion will lose and the queen will be waiting for them in KL.

Griff knows nothing of the Quentyn plot, and thinks that Dorne will support Aegon for free (like how most of the Riverlands supported Robb). Quentyn dying has at least removed the competition for Dany (between Aegon and the Dornish). Most lords in Westeros will support Aegon whether he has proof of his identity, because right now, anything is better than the "Baratheons". But what will JonCon have to offer Arianne and Dorne in return for their support?

Daario has a warrior's physique, but Lysono has a whore's. Nevertheless, I could never fathom how Dany could love him with the braided blue beard, yellow clothes and the golden teeth. Looking forward to a drawing where Arianne tells a miffed Griff that "your mother would be ashamed".

Show spoilers S6 leaked news about oncoming confrontation between Jaime and High Sparrow (the scene from trailer with its aftermath)

At the time he advised Aegon, Tyrion was not expecting to be taken away from the Griffs. It was a win-win situation for him. If Aegon meets with Dany, he will see the truth in Tyrion's words (about how she is no simple maid waiting for a pretty prince), and grow to respect Tyrion. If by some off-chance they turned to Westeros, the political situation there was exactly as Tyrion explained to Aegon, the same situations that will enable Aegon to win the Throne now. But then Tyrion had to go and get a whore.. maybe Lord Tywin was right about the dangers of Tyrion's whoring. But yes, if Tyrion returns to Westeros with Dany, he might regret advising Aegon. Also, before the Ironborn turned up to save the day, he might have hoped for Griff and the GC to come save Mereen to get Dany. All the alliances are going to be messy now. Main characters are given difficult choices. Aegon: (i) Marry Dany and displease Dorne (ii) Marry Margaery and displease Dorne, lose Dany and dragons (iii) Marry Arianne/Elia and lose Dany and her dragons. (iv) Marry Sansa and lose Dany and dragons. Arianne (i) Marry Aegon and displease Dany (ii) Ally with Aegon and marry Willas, but alienate Dany and dragons (iii) Ally with Dany (very very unlikely). Dany (i) Marry Euron and displease everyone in Westeros (ii) Marry Aegon and be not sure if he is real deal or not (iii) Marry Trystane and make Aegon marry Sansa and Arianne marry Willas. (best case scenario for stable alliances and very unlikley to happen) From the looks of it, Aegon is all set to get too far away from the dragon, like it happened in the cyvasse game with Tyrion. I thought Euron was a villain, but Arianne's view of the GC is not very promising either. And elephants won't help in a battle in the sea.

Once Aegon and the GC has taken the Iron Throne, will they think Dany is disposable, and try kill her and/or her dragons? Aegon would not sanction it, but Varys, Illlyrio, Lysono Maar and Doran(after hearing about Quentyn) will think that she is a complication rather than aid to their cause. These people do not realize the threat about Others, the real reason Westeron needs dragons right now.

Re-reading the chapter now, I am curious to know about the time when 'someone made off with Strickland's favorite elephant'.

I think that every so-called 'impregnable' castle will be captured during the story. (Not necessarily by force). Winterfell was captured by Theon and his 20 good men. Harrenhal changed hands due to Arya's weasel soup. Storms End taken by Jon Connington and GC (we don't know how). Eyrie is all set to be captured by either the Mountain clans or the dragons or both. The number of times Lysa and Robert says 'Eyrie in impregnable' means something will happen to contradict it. Casterly Rock could be captured by Tyrion on his return to Westeros. This is one castle that cannot be taken by force even if you have dragons (according to Visenya Targaryen), so I am really eager to see how (if) Casterly Rock will be captured. Twins could be taken by the Brotherhood without Banners during Red Wedding 2.0. I am looking forward to seeing this in season 6 of GoT.

This. Also, I don't see how Doran would trust Elia with any responsibilty, from what we have seen of Elia so far.

@Lord Varys @Ibbison from Ibben Randyll sought the help of some warlocks from Qarth and made Sam bathe in blood to make him braver. Not the sign of a devout follower of Seven. Sam tells that House Tarly has been worshiping the Seven for thousands of years, but Randyll Tarly, like Stannis and Tywin, may care only to do what is needed, and not worry about the Seven.

Don't forget Euron.

All that holds Tyrell-Lannister alliance together if Tommen-Margaery marriage. If either Tommen or Margaery end up dead, the Tyrells will support Aegon and Lannisters will lose the war. Their army is not as strong as before, and most of them were at Riverrun. BwB and Nymeria (maybe Sansa and the Vale too) will take care of that. It will soon be time for the Tyrells to give up wanting Marg to be queen and try to protect their own seat. We may see a betrothal between Willas and Arianne.

Hope not. Just when I was beginning to care for Arianne.. I will not be sad to see Elia meeting a tragic end, though.

IMO, Arianne's interaction with Lysono Maar may be related to how she will judge Aegon. Lysono looking like a Targaryen will make it difficult for her to assess Aegon's heritage based on his blonde hair and purple eyes. Unfortunately there is no picture of Rhaegar anywhere accessible (Castle Darry has Aegon I to Aerys, not Rhaegar portrait in tapestries). I don't think Aegon's facial features are similar to Rhaegar, because if it was, JonCon would have remarked upon it (Eg: he had the same square jaw as Rhaegar or something like that.) All JonCon does is notice the difference in eyecolor of father and 'son'. If Aegon looks like his mother Elia (I mean the facial features, not skin, hair and eye colors), Arianne or Daemon may be able to identify him. But the stage is set for Arianne and/or Elia to fall in love with Aegon. I'm sure sooner or later they will hear about JonCon's plan to marry Aegon to Dany, which is against Dorne's interest. All they need is the news of Quentyn to start another Dance of dragons. I think Ser Barristan will send Quentyn's bones with Arch and Drink, and Dorne's view of Dany will depend heavily on what songs the two knights sing. Quentyn did not hate Dany, but his friends accused her for his death even though it was entirely their/his own fault.

Regarding Umber, I'm pretty sure this is his casting call (from Watchers on the Wall: http://watchersonthewall.com/more-casting-info-for-game-of-thrones-season-6/): Point of interest: "Hatred that runs deep". Karstark is said to be ruthless and calculating in the casting call, and may well be on the Bolton side (or not). But the only person Umber show real hatred for is Roose. And what does he mention about Roose other than being a cunt? That Roose swore his oath to Robb Stark and did not keep it. Given the dire climate of the North plus the wildling thread unleashed by Jon, Umber's reasons to ally with Ramsay is plausible, but it is more likely that he hates the Boltons. Maybe he hates Starks too, but if I was Ramsay, I wouldn't trust Umber to watch my back.

One more episode with some much awaited book references. In the books, the scene where Bran calls out to Ned through weirnet is very similar, but the location is Winterfell, and the time-period is just after RR, because Ned is praying that Robb and Jon should grow as close as brothers with only love between them. Bran thinks Ned heard him, but BR says 'maybe he heard the wind'. BR then goes on about his own losses, about his brother and lover and how he could only watch. We are led to believe all Bran managed was to make leaves rustle or branch fall, but then we see Theon hearing the heart tree calling his name, and Bran's. Clearly, it is Bran calling Theon. So between the vision with Ned and the vision with Theon (it was a vision for Bran and reality for us), Bran's power or his confidence to make himself heard across different times may have increased. Come to today's episode, could it be possible that Bran is stronger when he revisits ToJ, and so he may influence the events there? BR says that the past is already written. To me it sounds like a Chekhov's gun for Bran to fire. Maybe he will influence the events at ToJ. Maybe that is why BR waited for Bran. Because he knew Bran would make those changes in past? Or Maybe I've watched too much Doctor Who

Double post. Sorry

Qyburn is just a scientist doing whatever to get the funding for his innovative experiments. Don't be too hard on him. In the EP4 promo, I loved the look on Sansa, Brienne and Pod's faces Sansa : "Fucking finally, I gonna be with family" Brienne: "They see me rolling they hating (Avenged Renly. Kept the promise to Lady Catelyn and Jaime Lannister. Killed some Boltons.)" Of course, what happens after she meets Melisandre or Davos is upto guess. Pod: "I'm not dressed for this weather." Hopefully Edd lends him Jon's cloak.

I too think that the older youth with muttonchops is most likely a young Ser Rodrik, the late master-at-arms of Winterfell. At first I thought it was Brandon, but the hair style and clothes suggest he was not a Stark. And he is definitely not Robert Baratheon. Ned and Robert was about the same age. I can't fathom why the Umbers would give Rickon to a psycho like Ramsay, but he is the gift, not Theon. We saw in the trailers that Theon reunites with his sister, Ramsay would never do such a mercy to Theon by sending him home. At first I jumped with glee 'Bran will go back home to Winterfell' at the CoTF's words to Meera, then sad realization came that it could also be Bran going North, to the lands of always winter. I am still holding out hope to Arya to exhibit her warg powers. So far, only Bran has shown any ability to warg. They show strong connection between Jon and Ghost but he is never shown warging into Ghost. But if Arya gets out of her current situation (blind fighter - Jaqen stopped her being a beggar but she is still blind) using her warging ability, it will come off as a astonishing to show-fans at least. The surprise element will be ruined if Jon was also shown as a warg earlier. It is similar to how they cut Lady Stoneheart to Jon's death and resurrection will have more impact on viewers.

The gift received by Ramsay is not Theon because (i) We have seen Theon and Asha together in the trailers. (ii) Ramsay is not gonna send Reek to Asha.

After all the deviations from books, this felt like a book-reference heavy episode. (See what the 'faithful adaptation' has come down to). >> Lyanna, and how good she is at riding, hints at her knowing how to fight. >> Bran all grown-up. I wish he could walk again and be King in the North/Lord of Winterfell again. He was speaking on behalf of all fans when he said 'Can't we stay a little longer?' at Winterfell. >> Theon was most emotional when he said 'Robb, who I betrayed'. I half-hoped him to say 'I should have died with him there'/ >> The way the scene shifted to that magnificent view of Pyke just after Theon saying 'Home'. Euron is awesome! Glad they kept one good line in - The first storm and the last. Also the part about people praying when they see his sails. >> Sansa's first true smile since season snowcastle scene from S4, and glad it happens when thinking about Arya. Sophie was great in playing it subtle. >> Tyrion reminiscing upon his childhood dreams. Fixed the effect of silly lines like "I'm friends with your mother" - Even human kids are not gonna fall for that! Except perhaps Sansa. I hope Tyrion and the dragons become bros. That moment when he unchained the first dragon to turn around and see the other dragon inches from his face - It was so much like Quentyn, but with happier outcomes. >> I'm glad Melisandre did not kiss Jon to life. Makes me hope his change will be less like Beric or Lady Stoneheart. >> Davos Seaworth is the Protector of Bastards. >> Next time on GoT - Tower of Joy hype!

At the end of the Dorne debacle in the premiere we are left with highly anti-Lannister rebels ruling Dorne. What would it mean for the future? I've seen people theorizing that Dorne will back Dany (in the show). But Dany is clearly going to be on the same side as Tyrion. With this much stupid revenge done by Sand snakes, I an inclined to think the Dornish will try/succeed in killing Dany after she reaches Westeros, because the new Dornish motto is that everyone who cooperates with Lannisters must be killed. When I read the books, the character I wanted most to lose was Euron. In the show however, I hope he wins. He is the king D&D's Westeros deserves.