Game of thrones season 5!!!9 sleeps!

[fireandblood]

Anyone else counting down the days! I actually get nervous thinking about it. I have re watched all series and reading the books to pass the time.

Can't wait to see what they do with Sansa and Tyrion this series. And will we see the hound again and lady stone heart?

There's a long spoiler Podcast from Bald Move on it. Can't remember how he explained the religion issues!

Ehric I think I just googled "Howland Reed identity theory" or something and it popped up.

I'd forgotten about HR - that's an interesting theory about him.

I'm getting really confused with the show and the books as it's been a good while since I read the books. Can someone tell me if in the books the High Sparrow and the High Septon are one and the same or even if there is a High Sparrow in the book? Anyway, interesting theory about HR as HS but he believed in the Old Gods.

I was VERY disappointed it was LF who told the story of Rhaegar and Lyanna at the Harrenhal tourney. I remember reading it, as told by Meera, and being memserised by all the references to the "dragon prince" and "wolf maid". All of that reduced to a few sentences. And that knowing look he gives at the end - as if HE would know what exactly happened.

I think the knowing look was in response to the "abduction and rape" story. That was Robert Baratheon's version, and he would be very much in denial of Lyanna's consent. I'm sure there were plenty of people who knew she went willingly with Rhaegar (if she did!) so there's no reason why LF wouldn't know about it. It wouldn't have been spoken about openly during Robert's reign. But it's the baby that's the big secret.

High Sparrow is in the book and he is made High Septon when old one is disgraced. (Is that appointment in Cersei's gift?).

I thought that Tyrion might be the key to Dany getting back control of the dragons but now I am less sure :D Off to google fan theories :D

My favourite fan theory is the one about Syrio Forel - I think it's got legs. God, I hope it's true, it would be badass!

I'm interested in how much the writers have gone rogue now that the show has started to majorly deviate from the books- how much of the 'new' content will actually end up being canon re the books, and how many of the dropped story lines will genuinely prove to be unimportant.

I don't think they've gone rogue, I thought that GRRM had told them the plot.

Part of me hopes that people like Syrio and Uncle Brandon are dead, for no other reason that GRRM is a slayer of tropes.

Watching the show is like watching some sort of fan fiction.

Vivacia some show story threads are completely and utterly different from the books. I think the general belief is that the show creators know how the story all ties up but they are making their own way to that end point. So I kind of get why some of the story threads are different and why some story threads and characters have been dropped altogether.

Trouble is, even if R+L doesn't equal J, SF is not JH, not to mention the Hound theories, what's to stop GRRM putting them all into the books (if he lives long enough!) anyway and pretending he meant to all along? We would never know. Maybe it doesn't matter - plot setting by fans?

Vivacia some show story threads are completely and utterly different from the books. I think the general belief is that the show creators know how the story all ties up but they are making their own way to that end point.

I know, I have read the books and watched the show. I agree that they know how it ends so know what they can get away with skipping or changing. I was sorry to see some major characters not even get a glimpse in the show.

Interestingly, GRRM has said that he's had a lightbulb moment about a long running character which he might write into the story but that the show has already made a different decision for this character. And really, he could change his mind about any number of characters or thread endings or even who survives at the end. So, potentially the show end and book end could look very different.

In Battlestar Galctica, the plan was for Helo to never be mentioned again after he was left on Caprica, but after the miniseries aired so many people liked him that the writers decided to keep him. Then he ended up being quite important.

I suspect that GRRM has said "here are two or three things that are IMPORTANT", but that many of the characters that we think of as critical are disposable and the writers can do as they wish.

I think all this tv/books inspiring each other really adds to the complexity of thrones and makes it more alive....weird to think online fans may direct events in the books too - pos also in a reverse way where some of the 'surprises' have been guessed by fans and end up changed!

Hello, all! Finally caught up to episode 4 thanks to NOW TV (watching on laptop, don't have Sky).

I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet - Ser Meryn Trant is on Arya's list and he's now on his way to Braavos with Margaery's father. I am hoping against hope that he crosses paths with Arya there.

Arya's storyline is one of my great favourites. I was delighted to see Jaqen Haq again!

Watched episode 5 this morning - I think I have an ulcer from the tension! It was a fantastic episode, lots of action and a couple of unexpected twists, although I already knew the outcome of the fight at the end of episode 4. I guessed the very last moment of the episode during the last scene but didn't expect it to happen before then iykwim.

There is a very obvious nod to a fan theory that was so blatant that it makes me think the writers wanted us to think the theory is true, but are going to make it not true because it's so obvious! Or maybe it's a double bluff

I am on a day off, but DP isn't. I am showing MASSIVE restraint and love in not watching episode 5 without him. I am completely intrigued by Chief's post.

Stannis for King of Pedants' Corner and I will be his queen because it's exactly what I thought as soon as it was said.

I also liked Tyrion's line about 'the Mormont Way.'

Vivacia ooh, I wouldn't! I'd watch without saying anything, and then watch it again later. I always want to watch it twice anyway, to pick up bits I missed. You can sometimes only watch one person's face at a time before the scene cuts, so it's easy to miss a priceless reaction.

I'd watch it too and watch it again with him, just don't give anything away.

I always have to watch at least twice anyway and after reading all the comments here and on various blogs because I always miss things.

Viviacia I don't want to say any more than that as it would spoil it, but I do like to tease

I've just watched episode 5 which is already on NOW TV and am utterly baffled by Chief's post above! Don't explain it till after ep 5 goes out on SKY though!

Terrific episode. I second limited's comments! Will say no more than that now.

I've read all the books so will work hard on keeping stum about things that haven't appeared in the TV series, not least because they might never happen. The divergence is getting pretty big now and I like that as it's like having two different stories instead of one.

I didn't watch it, and I avoided the thread (so I'm afraid I did the pedantry thing out loud ).

Had to watch quite a bit of that episode through my fingers!

Aaaaarrrggghhhh! No opportunity to watch ep 5 until Wednesday night! Will have to stay clear of this thread till then.