I think it depends on both the books (including what's yet to be published) and the show creators feelings on certain characters. Always read they hate Stannis as a character and couldn't wait to kill him off, so I doubt he's coming back.
Books A Song of Ice and Fire (Books) | TV show? What TV show?
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I think it depends on both the books (including what's yet to be published) and the show creators feelings on certain characters. Always read they hate Stannis as a character and couldn't wait to kill him off, so I doubt he's coming back.
Anyone read the ASOIAF subreddit? You get some pretty interesting theories on there regarding the show and books, I really like this one regarding Arya's storyline in the show...
OK after thinking a bit more about it, I have a prediction to add to this. It's a bit long and has a lot of analysis, so I hope people don't mind I gave it it's own post. I think watching the show again, it's unlikely that Arya is knowingly working with Jaqen to draw the Waif out. But I do think Arya's test was not what we think it was. Please accept my latest tinfoil;
Jaqen was testing both Arya and The Waif here. Arya passed her test.
The assassination was not the real test. In fact the assassination was not a real job at all - because Lady Crane is a Faceless Man. She would have survived whether the poison was drunk or not, after all she had the antidote. Note Crane is by far and away the best actor in the troupe. Of course she is, the Faceless are the best actors in the world.
Jaqen says to Arya before the job that "A girl is not ready"; he knows fair well she's not ready to carry out proper FM assassinations. But why did he send her to kill a woman who just happened to be playing the role of Cersei Lannister, in a play about the events of her life? Coincidence? I think not.
When watching the show we see Arya's emotional response. Her last failure was failing to give up her revenge list, soreally what she must do to become no one is to give up her hatred, and need for revenge. What's important here is Arya's reaction to the play. Shortly after poisoning Lady Crane's drink, something odd happens - Lady Crane stops Arya and questions her. Four things happen -
She empathises with Cersei's loss. The effect the play had on her was not to further hate her enemies, but to understand how Cersei would feel when losing her son. She responded objectively - her judgement wasn't clouded by hatred. She even sounds like she's contrasting it with the loss of her own father. You can see the turning point in the previous scene - When "Joffrey" dies, Arya is laughing about it while the crowd throw her glances of disdain. The scene is pretty funny, but obviously is intended to be tragic. When Lady Crane says her lines, however, Arya's face changes. She stops laughing. She understands Cersei's loss. When the scene ends, she is the first to clap.
The next two things are what personally clinched it for me; * Lady Crane asks Arya if she likes pretending to be other people. She seems confident when she says this, like she knows Arya is not what she seems. * Just before that though - she asks one, very important question of Arya;
LC: "What is your name?"
Lady Crane isn't just asking innocuous questions. She is playing The Game Of Faces. She starts with her own story, then ends with the same question Jaqen asks of Arya. Obviously Arya has no idea, so simply answers "Mercy".
Jaqen also tested The Waif here though - knowing Arya would fudge the actual assassination part, he wanted to see how The Waif reacted. She expressed a desire to dispatch Arya, and in this, she failed. A girl has no desires. When The Waif contronts him, Jaqen says "Shame. A girl had many gifts". He is disappointed in not Arya, but The Waif. Her eagerness to kill is at odds with what it means to truly be no one. His request to make it quick is not fondness for Arya - it is a warning - one the Waif has predictably ignored when she went for the gut, and not the heart or throat.
When Arya finally dispatches The Waif I think we'll see Jaqen appear. He will inform Arya she passed her test. She will then go out into the wider world - joining the mummers under her new mentor - Lady Crane.
https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/com..._not_what_we_think/?ref=share&ref_source=link
Jaqen was testing both Arya and The Waif here. Arya passed her test.
The assassination was not the real test. In fact the assassination was not a real job at all - because Lady Crane is a Faceless Man. She would have survived whether the poison was drunk or not, after all she had the antidote. Note Crane is by far and away the best actor in the troupe. Of course she is, the Faceless are the best actors in the world.
Jaqen says to Arya before the job that "A girl is not ready"; he knows fair well she's not ready to carry out proper FM assassinations. But why did he send her to kill a woman who just happened to be playing the role of Cersei Lannister, in a play about the events of her life? Coincidence? I think not.
When watching the show we see Arya's emotional response. Her last failure was failing to give up her revenge list, soreally what she must do to become no one is to give up her hatred, and need for revenge. What's important here is Arya's reaction to the play. Shortly after poisoning Lady Crane's drink, something odd happens - Lady Crane stops Arya and questions her. Four things happen -
- Lady Crane gives her a brief background story, nothing suspicious there, but this is also what the FM do when they play their "game".
- Arya responds to Lady Crane's portrayal of Cersei - this is where Arya really passes her test -
She empathises with Cersei's loss. The effect the play had on her was not to further hate her enemies, but to understand how Cersei would feel when losing her son. She responded objectively - her judgement wasn't clouded by hatred. She even sounds like she's contrasting it with the loss of her own father. You can see the turning point in the previous scene - When "Joffrey" dies, Arya is laughing about it while the crowd throw her glances of disdain. The scene is pretty funny, but obviously is intended to be tragic. When Lady Crane says her lines, however, Arya's face changes. She stops laughing. She understands Cersei's loss. When the scene ends, she is the first to clap.
The next two things are what personally clinched it for me; * Lady Crane asks Arya if she likes pretending to be other people. She seems confident when she says this, like she knows Arya is not what she seems. * Just before that though - she asks one, very important question of Arya;
LC: "What is your name?"
Lady Crane isn't just asking innocuous questions. She is playing The Game Of Faces. She starts with her own story, then ends with the same question Jaqen asks of Arya. Obviously Arya has no idea, so simply answers "Mercy".
Jaqen also tested The Waif here though - knowing Arya would fudge the actual assassination part, he wanted to see how The Waif reacted. She expressed a desire to dispatch Arya, and in this, she failed. A girl has no desires. When The Waif contronts him, Jaqen says "Shame. A girl had many gifts". He is disappointed in not Arya, but The Waif. Her eagerness to kill is at odds with what it means to truly be no one. His request to make it quick is not fondness for Arya - it is a warning - one the Waif has predictably ignored when she went for the gut, and not the heart or throat.
When Arya finally dispatches The Waif I think we'll see Jaqen appear. He will inform Arya she passed her test. She will then go out into the wider world - joining the mummers under her new mentor - Lady Crane.
https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/com..._not_what_we_think/?ref=share&ref_source=link
I began to reread the books and in a Bran chapter, his vision sort of got me thinking albeit not very clearly 
Maybe not even relevant any more but could that last bit mean that it will be the Hound vs the Mountain (with the Mountain just barely winning) which might see the High Sparrow call for Tommen's death? Then Jaime will finish off the Mountain and thereby fulfil Cersei's valonqar prophecy...The hound and Jaime are both 'little brothers' and I'd think Jaime would choose his last child over Cersei (Cersei would probably make this choice too). Since Tommen is now of the faith and it is his doing which will lead to the trial by combat and her death...I really am overthinking this aren't I?! But that bit of the vision fascinates me.
Some poster in the other thread made a reference about Syrio Forel's image for the upcoming episode 
So in the end, Arya was just Arya and the waif was just a waif and Black fish is just a dry fish.
That Arya stuff probably tops Dorne as the worst writing in the show.
She goes from leaving the Faceless Men, hiding in the darkness clutching Needle preparing for whatever comes her way to strolling about Braavos with a swagger, tossing money around and leaving Needle behind.
She goes from leaving the Faceless Men, hiding in the darkness clutching Needle preparing for whatever comes her way to strolling about Braavos with a swagger, tossing money around and leaving Needle behind.
Train with an assassin cult after pledging your life to them. Refuse to kill a target , not once but twice. Escape a trained assassin possessing the ability to change into another body after suffering grievous wounds, kill the assassin by fighting in the dark and dump the body in their church and tell the head priest that you after all, and then walk away to Westeros.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Literally every theory concocted over the last week to explain Arya's stabbing was more plausible (not to mention more interesting) than what actually happened. David & Dan just aren't good writers, simple as that.
Kevan Lannister is infinitely more smug and annoying in the show. Begging for a crossbow.
Awful really
When she jumped out of that window after barely getting out of bed, I mean come on...The preview for next week though
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What's west of Westeros? The Iron Islands love.
Essos. The world is round.
I don't get Tyrions joke.
Varys
is he heading to make a deal with yara and Theon??
My guess would be to Dorne to facilitate a landing point for Danny - also it brings Dorne back into the storyline and they now have leadership who in theory at least would be all up for unleashing some dragons on Kings Landing
Think that was up there with the worst episodes in the show's entire run.
People need to learn what filler means.
Shit episode.
At least I can bask in the comfort that book 6 will be so so so much better than that.
At least I can bask in the comfort that book 6 will be so so so much better than that.
Filler episode, nothing more.
They were trying to build up the next episode, which should be good because it is episode 9.
Not sure if this should be in spoilers or not, but the next episode's trailer looks awesome. Finally the battle of the bastards. I just hope it doesn't turn out as shit as Stannis vs Boltons. It shouldn't do thought judging by the trailer.
Also, now that Tommen has ruled out trial by combat, does that mean no Cleganebowl?
Also, now that Tommen has ruled out trial by combat, does that mean no Cleganebowl?
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Just out of curiosity, if Tommen dies, who is the next in line for the throne?. Are there any baratheon's left?? Gendry??
Apparently its Cerci
http://mashable.com/2016/05/03/game-thrones-heir/#vcrh6u6WQuqg
http://mashable.com/2016/05/03/game-thrones-heir/#vcrh6u6WQuqg
I don't really get the constant use of the word "filler" for describing episodes. Generally the term is used for episodes in a series which "fill in" between episodes focusing on the major plot of that series. In the case of Game of Thrones you don't really see that. Each episode does serve in some way to move the plot along or develop the story in some way. It is not like they suddenly do some episode that has nothing to do with the major plots of the season, especially since there are only 10 episodes a season.
I think people just use it now to say "Oh nothing like the Red Wedding or Ned's Be-heading or Hardholme" happened so therefore this is just "filler"
I mean last night we found out Tommen and the High Sparrow just destroyed Cersei's plan of using Franken Mountain to get her out of trouble via trial by combat. Arya's story line with the Faceless Men reached it's end. Now the whole Tully thing being used just to have two scenes with Jaime and Brienne so far appears just a continuation of how the messed up Jaime's character in the show compared to the book, but perhaps the next two episodes will have something for those two yet.
The Hound hooking up with the Brother's with Banner's and they are heading NORTH it seems to join the fight vs. the White Walkers and perhaps the Hound and Arya will be together again.]
Oh and Khalessi returning to Mereen just in time to help fight off the attack by the slavers.
I think people just use it now to say "Oh nothing like the Red Wedding or Ned's Be-heading or Hardholme" happened so therefore this is just "filler"
I mean last night we found out Tommen and the High Sparrow just destroyed Cersei's plan of using Franken Mountain to get her out of trouble via trial by combat. Arya's story line with the Faceless Men reached it's end. Now the whole Tully thing being used just to have two scenes with Jaime and Brienne so far appears just a continuation of how the messed up Jaime's character in the show compared to the book, but perhaps the next two episodes will have something for those two yet.
The Hound hooking up with the Brother's with Banner's and they are heading NORTH it seems to join the fight vs. the White Walkers and perhaps the Hound and Arya will be together again.]
Oh and Khalessi returning to Mereen just in time to help fight off the attack by the slavers.
Yep, if an episode isn't like Hardhome or Blackwater, some people label it filler.
I thought it was a poor enough episode with the exception of a few scenes but shit got done.
Hound joined the Brotherhood.
The trial by combat was abolished, which has pushed Cersei over the edge.
Dany returned to Meereen.
Arya's training is over and she's headed home.
Riverrun siege is over.
That Tyrion shit was a filler scene but it wasn't a filler episode.
Edit: What @JustAFan said.
Where's the Hound headed it seems?
I keep thinking of that line from Princess Bride...."You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it does."
I think it has just become the "cool kid" term to use about GoT episodes.
It is a product of the huge budget of Game of Thrones. If people don't seem some huge fight or huge battles or the Night's King or whatever they get disappointed. What should be understood that it is a TV show, with a finite budget and not a movie where they can spend hundreds of millions for two hours of screen time.
I agree about this filler episode bullshit. Not every episode needs to have a battle, but that Arya Stark arc was so badly written.
That's how I feel about it. It's up there with Dorne in terms of pointlessness. This episode teased that something epic is coming in Kings Landing and in Meereen which I liked.
I'm on holiday for episode 9 so won't see it until a week later.
Pretty bad episode, Tyrion's been weak this season.
The Riverrun story line was completely pointless and terribly written. Why would Edmure give up Riverrun for the child of a marriage that cost him his family, his home, and ties him to the Freys as their vassals? Maybe he's as reckless as his sisters when it comes to children but it doesn't make much sense. Building up the siege of Riverrun to that was a complete waste of time.
It really is a shame. Seems like they didn't know what to do with him and just made him the comic relief.
I don't think it's terrible. What Edmure did is in line with his character. He isn't someone like Ned or the Blackfish who's going to let his people die because of his honour or he isn't the most honourable person. His people lived, that's what he cared about. The siege wasn't that interesting in the books either.
I didn't really either but if I had to guess it would be Northerners being silly drunk brutes who want the fly to give back the alcohol they have since they fell into the drink.
The writing was pretty terrible this episode. Jaime's butchered character arc is only topped by Stannis, and the Faceless Men arc only topped by Dorne.
It's still his child, and if he doesn't give it up then they all die anyway. It's pretty much what happened in the books, too.
But in the book he at least let's the Blackfish escape rather than asking for him in irons and capitulating completely. Instead, he died pointlessly. On the run, he's someone who could rally Tully forces or houses loyal to them to continue to resist the Lannisters. It also gives Edmure a little more depth than the spineless, wet rag he is in the show.
I thought that the show portrayed Edmure with a little more sense and compassion for his people to stop pointless killings, and prolonged suffering, whilst the Blackfish came across as a bit of fool who had the opportunity to take his men (or even just himself) North and help his family rather than pointlessly flail around for his pride offscreen.
They seem to keep trying to push Jaime and Cersei as a legitimate love story that you should be supporting. It's sick you cretins!