Ayra need story needs to pick up, I do like everything with Cersie and Margory though. Sea Snake fight scene sucked although Bronn is always entertaining.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
Ayra need story needs to pick up, I do like everything with Cersie and Margory though. Sea Snake fight scene sucked although Bronn is always entertaining.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
This.
It was reminiscent of the Theone rescue as someone stated above. And to be completely honest it was almost comical. These two clowns just roll right into the middle of the enemies quarters dressed like clowns and just approach the girl while she's with the prince. It had a Monty Python feel to it.
In the past seasons I thought HBO usually took a break on Memorial Day weekend setting up the last 3 or 4 episodes. Looks like we will have an episode on Sunday.
Ayra need story needs to pick up, I do like everything with Cersie and Margory though. Sea Snake fight scene sucked although Bronn is always entertaining.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
This.
It was reminiscent of the Theone rescue as someone stated above. And to be completely honest it was almost comical. These two clowns just roll right into the middle of the enemies quarters dressed like clowns and just approach the girl while she's with the prince. It had a Monty Python feel to it.
I could do without the Sand Snakes altogether. Jaime's whole Dornish adventure is very ill-conceived. But I got the sense that these guys were all allowed into the Gardens so that they could be captured in the act. Doctor Bashir now has the Sand Snakes out of the way and massive leverage over Cersi if need be.
And I guess Im the only one who likes the Arya story line. Then again, I've been tired of Dany forever, and she's the most popular story on the show it seems.
but I think it's been a very good season. Only storyline that's struggling a bit is Arya.
ITA. In fact, the most interested I've been in Arya's storyline was yesterday when Haqar was hitting her for lying about her feelings for The Hound. Otherwise, I've really enjoyed the rest of the storylines.
However, I'm in total agreement that the Jamie/Bronn/Sand Snakes/Dorne scene from yesterday's ep was poorly done.
When Tyrion tells Jorah about his father's death. Really good scene for both.
The House of Faces was awesome, way better then what I had imagined while reading the book.
Not so thrilled with the entire Ramsey/Sansa story line at all for many reasons, mostly because the result is so predictable. Let's hope Sansa manages to flay Ramsey at some point, as long as the show writers think their fan fiction version of Sansa's story is an improvement on the original.
And the entire Dorne story is a mess, only to be capped by the awful Sand Snake fight scene. Try comparing that mess to Oberyn's awesome fight against the Mountain last season.
What a shame and a waste of what really should be a good and compelling Dorne story line. Alexander Siddig playing Doran is mostly ignored while they focus on the cartoon like Sand Snakes.
that last nights episode was lacking. IMO, the whole religious angle where they're basically running the city is just not interesting and doesn't make much sense at all. I don't know if that's in the books or not but it's completely out of left field and seems like something the writers just threw in there.
IIRC from earlier in the season, the religious uprising is in
large part a response to the wars of the kingdom and the fact that harvesting season was almost completely eliminated, leading to a lot of poverty and starvation.
I think Cersei created the Faith Militant as a way to shore up her power after her Uncle Kevan left back to Casterly Rock, essentially taking much of the Lannister force with him.
Or, in other words, Cersei thinks she's 3 steps quicker than everyone, cementing her place with a religious organization that has largely been subservient to the crown in the past, and a way to rid herself of her reliance on family she doesn't trust.
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
As I told my wife, Cersei thinks she's the smartest person in the
Yeah, Cersei never thinks beyond the next move. Tywin was a very strategic thinker, but Cersei lacks the wits to compete with Olenna, Littlefinger, etc.
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
Lots of people yell that at me too. #bros
I was going to say the exact same thing.
One of the open questions coming out of Season 4...
...was where the show would get its gravitas and macho swagger after skewering Charles Dance, squishing Pedro Pascal and exiling Iain Glenn. Not to mention the earlier, symbolic emasculation of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and the nearly forgotten - though the North remembers - decapitation of Sean Bean. With so many big, brass testicles already gone, shivving Ian McElhinney in an alley seemed an odd choice. Jacob Anderson's Grey Worm is sweet and all, but there's something missing from that character...
The showrunners have developed new options - Jonathan Pryce in particular, with Alexander Siddig showing some potential even as he dithers on his balcony - and breathed life into old ones. Diana Rigg is back, with possibly the biggest balls around. Glenn will have a chance to fight his way back into Dany's good graces (if he doesn't turn to stone first), and Stephen Dillane is looking almost fatherly, by Stannis's standards.
Michael McElhatton's Roose replaces Dance as the hiss-worthy master of the game, with an even creepier family. McElhatton is a far better actor than Aidan Gillen, with much clearer diction; but I think Littlefinger will get the better of that chess match, speech impediment and all. The question is how much more damage the Boltons will inflict before Stannis (and possibly Jon) dispense justice.
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
And he didnt say anything while his wife was getting dragged away. Sorry you are the king and ruler of Westeros
It is frustrating but he is being played by his mother, so he's torn. If it were Jof, he would have killed all the religious men in that room. No questions asked.
Joffrey, Ramsey, Littlefinger, and Tywin most of all... These guys dominated every scene they are in.
But even bigger than that used to be the overarching idea of the coming winter and what is to come with it. In the beginning it felt like the danger of the White Walkers was on everyone's minds, and it impacted decisions and attitudes. Now, not so much.
... was never taken seriously in King's Landing. Even the "smart" Lannisters - Tywin and Tyrion in particular - belittled talk of wights and giants as nursemaids' fables.
Where the focus did shift was at the Wall itself. After Lord Commander Mormont's death, the Night's Watch became consumed with internal struggles and the incursions by the Free Folk. That's changing, or at least it might change if Jon survives. If he can forge an awkward alliance of Wildlings and Crows to join Stannis's royalists and mercenaries, the North can turn its attention to the Coming of Winter (perhaps after cleansing itself of Boltons and Freys).
In any case, the main event is Ice vs. Fire. Only GRRM and the show runners know exactly what that means, but it does suggest that the petty intrigues of Highgarden and King's Landing will eventually be relegated to their deserved sideshow status.
did not countenance any challenge to his absolute power and control (save gramps knocking him down a peg). I dont think he would have encouraged a Saudi-style police force operating in parallel to the Gold Cloaks. And I struggle to picture him in a room being told that he is answerable to some higher law.
Makes me think of the good Joff scene in season 2 (I think) where he was telling Cersi how dumb the feudal system is re lords providing amries to the sovereign. Joff wanted a professional military answerable to the king.
Tommen is just soft and all of the people who could've helped
The showrunners have Brienne at Winterfell for a reason. But since it's Brienne, I don't expect an unambiguous triumph of good over evil. More likely a bloody, inconclusive standoff that won't improve Sansa's situation much. That's the running joke with poor Brienne, ever since Renly's encounter with the shadow: always close enough to the action to be nobly ineffective.
wall like 3 seasons ago? And hasn't he been back for a long time after he saw them? Unless their GPS is busted, shouldn't they have made it to the wall a long time ago already?
wall like 3 seasons ago? And hasn't he been back for a long time after he saw them? Unless their GPS is busted, shouldn't they have made it to the wall a long time ago already?
I believe that was the final scene in Season 2. (2!!!)
And don't forget last year that a white walker touched the baby's face and turned the baby into a white walker. But by all means, let's have more scenes of women in King's Landing being catty with each other.
RE: Didn't a herd of white walkers walk past somebody from the
wall like 3 seasons ago? And hasn't he been back for a long time after he saw them? Unless their GPS is busted, shouldn't they have made it to the wall a long time ago already?
The biggest threat to the kingdom walked by Sam seasons ago. It's like they needed eye candy and ignored the logistics.
RE: RE: Didn't a herd of white walkers walk past somebody from the
wall like 3 seasons ago? And hasn't he been back for a long time after he saw them? Unless their GPS is busted, shouldn't they have made it to the wall a long time ago already?
The biggest threat to the kingdom walked by Sam seasons ago. It's like they needed eye candy and ignored the logistics.
You're making a big assumption that the walkers were headed to the wall at that point. I'm not sure that was the case.
He folded when confronted. That's why Tyrion outlived him.
I'm not at all sure he would have stood up to the High Sparrow, especially when stuck between Margaery and Cersei.
I get what you're saying. I just think his disdain for the poor and them taking his wife (likely with the hound in the room) I think you have some dead religious types at the end of that scene.
Remember the first scene of season 3 with Sam running trying to find the Watch where Ghost saves him from the Wight. The White Walkers fought and killed a bunch of the Watch at the Fist of the First Men. That was their goal and where they were headed at the end of season 2. It's what led to the survivors of that attack turning on and killing Mormont in revolt. There was never any intention to reach the Wall and attempt an invasion at that point.
that Tommen is still a child. he may be the King, but he's a boy king. And many boys are scared and nervous, especially when a controlling mother is exerting a sense of authority.
Also, can people please stop talking about the fucking books in here? What is it with so many people who read the books that they just can't stop from telling non-readers about the books, even if peripherally? The whole point of a non-book thread is so that people who don't read the books can discuss the HBO television show Game of Thrones.
I remember there were some fan site maps that helped keep track of the timeline, history and families in relationship to where the show was currently at.
Is there a similar map right now for this season? Not interested in spoilers or what the White Walkers are planning to do later on in the storyline. I just wanted to know where exactly are the White Walkers currently at on the map and how far are they from the Wall.
RE: Where EXACTLY are the White Walkers right now in the storyline?
I remember there were some fan site maps that helped keep track of the timeline, history and families in relationship to where the show was currently at.
Is there a similar map right now for this season? Not interested in spoilers or what the White Walkers are planning to do later on in the storyline. I just wanted to know where exactly are the White Walkers currently at on the map and how far are they from the Wall.
Nobody knows. I think the last time we saw them they are at the alter where they turned the baby. That location is unknown. My guess is far north of the wall.
Not surprised to hear people are disappointed with this season,
A Feast for Crows (the title of the book covered this season...sorta/mostly) is, by Martin's own admission, the weakest in the series. He had a lot of difficulty writing it and it became so bloated that he basically had to chop it in half, leaving out several well known and loved central characters and introducing even more new key characters. Compared to the rest of the series it was hard to get through.
The White Walkers mostly hang out in the Land of Always Winter.
It's literally uncharted. No human has set foot up there for thousands of years, and nobody knows what the White Walkers have been doing in the meantime: Sleeping? Plotting? Watching porn? It's all a mystery. And nobody knows why they're making themselves visible now.
The White Walkers do seem to be wandering aimlessly.
Yes they're from the Land of Always Winter, but they must've marched a considerable distance south by this time. Sam and the rest of the ranging party encountered them near the Fist of the First Men. You can use a map and estimate...the distance between The Fist and Crasters Keep looks to be very close if not identical to the distance between Castle Black (located at the center of The Wall) and the Shadow Tower (The Walls westernmost point). Given that The Wall is 300 miles, that would obviously be 150. Sounds like a lot but you'd think they'd have covered that ground by now. Unless they're busy doing something to be revealed later, it kinda feels like they're just wandering around until events play out south of The Wall and the humans are ready for battle.
If that's even where it's headed. A showdown between Ice Zombies and fire breathing dragons seems obvious and inevitable, hell, even the title hints at that, but who knows at this point.
j_rud: The simplest explanation is that they are building their forces
The White Walkers don't seem to reproduce the fun, old-fashioned way. They can raise the dead to create wights, and they can apparently convert living humans (at least really young ones) into White Walkers under certain circumstances. But these are slow processes. If they are planning to strike south of the Wall as winter comes, it makes sense for them to convert as many dead Wildlings and other assorted corpses to their cause as possible before invading. Besides, the climate of the Seven Kingdoms might be unhealthy for their pale complexions until winter descends in earnest.
As for the inevitable clash of Ice and Fire, we don't really know the sides yet. Frosties and Wights vs. Dragons and Smoking Hot Blondes and Redheads? Sure. R'hllor vs. the Great Other in an epochal rematch? Absolutely. But is there room in the Red Team's dugout for both Dany and Melisandre? Does Jon Snow join his maybe-aunt to save the world, or does his name foretell his destiny? Does Sunspear follow the sun, or do the post-Oberyn Martells just waste more of our time as fantasy literature's most anticlimactic red herring? Does the cynicism of the Lannisters, Boltons, Tyrells, and/or Freys extend to selling out all of humanity and aligning with the Abominable Snowmen? And what does any of this have to do with Ninja Arya and Three-Eyed Bran?
While the White Walkers have been biding their time for 4,000 pages, Martin has set a rich narrative stage for their arrival. The challenge for him now is making it worth the wait.
The White Walkers don't seem to reproduce the fun, old-fashioned way. They can raise the dead to create wights, and they can apparently convert living humans (at least really young ones) into White Walkers under certain circumstances. But these are slow processes. If they are planning to strike south of the Wall as winter comes, it makes sense for them to convert as many dead Wildlings and other assorted corpses to their cause as possible before invading. Besides, the climate of the Seven Kingdoms might be unhealthy for their pale complexions until winter descends in earnest.
As for the inevitable clash of Ice and Fire, we don't really know the sides yet. Frosties and Wights vs. Dragons and Smoking Hot Blondes and Redheads? Sure. R'hllor vs. the Great Other in an epochal rematch? Absolutely. But is there room in the Red Team's dugout for both Dany and Melisandre? Does Jon Snow join his maybe-aunt to save the world, or does his name foretell his destiny? Does Sunspear follow the sun, or do the post-Oberyn Martells just waste more of our time as fantasy literature's most anticlimactic red herring? Does the cynicism of the Lannisters, Boltons, Tyrells, and/or Freys extend to selling out all of humanity and aligning with the Abominable Snowmen? And what does any of this have to do with Ninja Arya and Three-Eyed Bran?
While the White Walkers have been biding their time for 4,000 pages, Martin has set a rich narrative stage for their arrival. The challenge for him now is making it worth the wait.
Great stuff BBB, dan I can't wait for Winds of Winter. Apparently Martin is on a writing binge, he's even cancelled a bunch of appearances. Sounds like he's down to the home stretch and it may even be released late this year.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
Quote:
Ayra need story needs to pick up, I do like everything with Cersie and Margory though. Sea Snake fight scene sucked although Bronn is always entertaining.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
This.
It was reminiscent of the Theone rescue as someone stated above. And to be completely honest it was almost comical. These two clowns just roll right into the middle of the enemies quarters dressed like clowns and just approach the girl while she's with the prince. It had a Monty Python feel to it.
Quote:
In comment 12290531 weeg in the bronx said:
Quote:
Ayra need story needs to pick up, I do like everything with Cersie and Margory though. Sea Snake fight scene sucked although Bronn is always entertaining.
I agree.. I wasn't too impressed with those girls fighting..Bronn is awesome and is always entertaining.
This.
It was reminiscent of the Theone rescue as someone stated above. And to be completely honest it was almost comical. These two clowns just roll right into the middle of the enemies quarters dressed like clowns and just approach the girl while she's with the prince. It had a Monty Python feel to it.
I could do without the Sand Snakes altogether. Jaime's whole Dornish adventure is very ill-conceived. But I got the sense that these guys were all allowed into the Gardens so that they could be captured in the act. Doctor Bashir now has the Sand Snakes out of the way and massive leverage over Cersi if need be.
And I guess Im the only one who likes the Arya story line. Then again, I've been tired of Dany forever, and she's the most popular story on the show it seems.
ITA. In fact, the most interested I've been in Arya's storyline was yesterday when Haqar was hitting her for lying about her feelings for The Hound. Otherwise, I've really enjoyed the rest of the storylines.
However, I'm in total agreement that the Jamie/Bronn/Sand Snakes/Dorne scene from yesterday's ep was poorly done.
The House of Faces was awesome, way better then what I had imagined while reading the book.
Not so thrilled with the entire Ramsey/Sansa story line at all for many reasons, mostly because the result is so predictable. Let's hope Sansa manages to flay Ramsey at some point, as long as the show writers think their fan fiction version of Sansa's story is an improvement on the original.
And the entire Dorne story is a mess, only to be capped by the awful Sand Snake fight scene. Try comparing that mess to Oberyn's awesome fight against the Mountain last season.
What a shame and a waste of what really should be a good and compelling Dorne story line. Alexander Siddig playing Doran is mostly ignored while they focus on the cartoon like Sand Snakes.
I think Cersei created the Faith Militant as a way to shore up her power after her Uncle Kevan left back to Casterly Rock, essentially taking much of the Lannister force with him.
Or, in other words, Cersei thinks she's 3 steps quicker than everyone, cementing her place with a religious organization that has largely been subservient to the crown in the past, and a way to rid herself of her reliance on family she doesn't trust.
Foreshadowing was set up yesterday, with the Queen of Thorns stating that the Lannisters would be fucked without the wheat provided by the Tyrell's.
I wonder if Lady Oleanna, when meeting with the High Septon next week, asks about brother-fucking and its place in the pantheon of sins...
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
Quote:
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
Lots of people yell that at me too. #bros
Quote:
In comment 12290908 RB^2 said:
Quote:
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
Lots of people yell that at me too. #bros
I was going to say the exact same thing.
The showrunners have developed new options - Jonathan Pryce in particular, with Alexander Siddig showing some potential even as he dithers on his balcony - and breathed life into old ones. Diana Rigg is back, with possibly the biggest balls around. Glenn will have a chance to fight his way back into Dany's good graces (if he doesn't turn to stone first), and Stephen Dillane is looking almost fatherly, by Stannis's standards.
Michael McElhatton's Roose replaces Dance as the hiss-worthy master of the game, with an even creepier family. McElhatton is a far better actor than Aidan Gillen, with much clearer diction; but I think Littlefinger will get the better of that chess match, speech impediment and all. The question is how much more damage the Boltons will inflict before Stannis (and possibly Jon) dispense justice.
Quote:
In comment 12290987 shockeyisthebest8056 said:
Quote:
In comment 12290908 RB^2 said:
Quote:
The Loras trial is essentially a dry run for her own trial for banging Lancel. She doesn't even realize she's setting herself up while at the same time alienating the only people who could help her (the Tyrells). Easily the dumbest person in KL right now.
In addition, when Tommen visited the Sept, people were shouting "bastard" and "abomination" at him.
Lots of people yell that at me too. #bros
I was going to say the exact same thing.
Great minds...
It is frustrating but he is being played by his mother, so he's torn. If it were Jof, he would have killed all the religious men in that room. No questions asked.
I'm not at all sure he would have stood up to the High Sparrow, especially when stuck between Margaery and Cersei.
But even bigger than that used to be the overarching idea of the coming winter and what is to come with it. In the beginning it felt like the danger of the White Walkers was on everyone's minds, and it impacted decisions and attitudes. Now, not so much.
Where the focus did shift was at the Wall itself. After Lord Commander Mormont's death, the Night's Watch became consumed with internal struggles and the incursions by the Free Folk. That's changing, or at least it might change if Jon survives. If he can forge an awkward alliance of Wildlings and Crows to join Stannis's royalists and mercenaries, the North can turn its attention to the Coming of Winter (perhaps after cleansing itself of Boltons and Freys).
In any case, the main event is Ice vs. Fire. Only GRRM and the show runners know exactly what that means, but it does suggest that the petty intrigues of Highgarden and King's Landing will eventually be relegated to their deserved sideshow status.
Makes me think of the good Joff scene in season 2 (I think) where he was telling Cersi how dumb the feudal system is re lords providing amries to the sovereign. Joff wanted a professional military answerable to the king.
j_rud : 5/17/2015 10:31 pm : link : reply
That's Adebisi from Oz right thar!
I believe that was the final scene in Season 2. (2!!!)
And don't forget last year that a white walker touched the baby's face and turned the baby into a white walker. But by all means, let's have more scenes of women in King's Landing being catty with each other.
The biggest threat to the kingdom walked by Sam seasons ago. It's like they needed eye candy and ignored the logistics.
Quote:
wall like 3 seasons ago? And hasn't he been back for a long time after he saw them? Unless their GPS is busted, shouldn't they have made it to the wall a long time ago already?
The biggest threat to the kingdom walked by Sam seasons ago. It's like they needed eye candy and ignored the logistics.
You're making a big assumption that the walkers were headed to the wall at that point. I'm not sure that was the case.
I'm not at all sure he would have stood up to the High Sparrow, especially when stuck between Margaery and Cersei.
I get what you're saying. I just think his disdain for the poor and them taking his wife (likely with the hound in the room) I think you have some dead religious types at the end of that scene.
Also, can people please stop talking about the fucking books in here? What is it with so many people who read the books that they just can't stop from telling non-readers about the books, even if peripherally? The whole point of a non-book thread is so that people who don't read the books can discuss the HBO television show Game of Thrones.
Yes. It's named "The Gift".
Is there a similar map right now for this season? Not interested in spoilers or what the White Walkers are planning to do later on in the storyline. I just wanted to know where exactly are the White Walkers currently at on the map and how far are they from the Wall.
Is there a similar map right now for this season? Not interested in spoilers or what the White Walkers are planning to do later on in the storyline. I just wanted to know where exactly are the White Walkers currently at on the map and how far are they from the Wall.
Nobody knows. I think the last time we saw them they are at the alter where they turned the baby. That location is unknown. My guess is far north of the wall.
If that's even where it's headed. A showdown between Ice Zombies and fire breathing dragons seems obvious and inevitable, hell, even the title hints at that, but who knows at this point.
As for the inevitable clash of Ice and Fire, we don't really know the sides yet. Frosties and Wights vs. Dragons and Smoking Hot Blondes and Redheads? Sure. R'hllor vs. the Great Other in an epochal rematch? Absolutely. But is there room in the Red Team's dugout for both Dany and Melisandre? Does Jon Snow join his maybe-aunt to save the world, or does his name foretell his destiny? Does Sunspear follow the sun, or do the post-Oberyn Martells just waste more of our time as fantasy literature's most anticlimactic red herring? Does the cynicism of the Lannisters, Boltons, Tyrells, and/or Freys extend to selling out all of humanity and aligning with the Abominable Snowmen? And what does any of this have to do with Ninja Arya and Three-Eyed Bran?
While the White Walkers have been biding their time for 4,000 pages, Martin has set a rich narrative stage for their arrival. The challenge for him now is making it worth the wait.
I wouldn't say "disaster" but certainly very sub-par. I'm hardly stoked for each episode the way I was every other season.
As for the inevitable clash of Ice and Fire, we don't really know the sides yet. Frosties and Wights vs. Dragons and Smoking Hot Blondes and Redheads? Sure. R'hllor vs. the Great Other in an epochal rematch? Absolutely. But is there room in the Red Team's dugout for both Dany and Melisandre? Does Jon Snow join his maybe-aunt to save the world, or does his name foretell his destiny? Does Sunspear follow the sun, or do the post-Oberyn Martells just waste more of our time as fantasy literature's most anticlimactic red herring? Does the cynicism of the Lannisters, Boltons, Tyrells, and/or Freys extend to selling out all of humanity and aligning with the Abominable Snowmen? And what does any of this have to do with Ninja Arya and Three-Eyed Bran?
While the White Walkers have been biding their time for 4,000 pages, Martin has set a rich narrative stage for their arrival. The challenge for him now is making it worth the wait.
Great stuff BBB, dan I can't wait for Winds of Winter. Apparently Martin is on a writing binge, he's even cancelled a bunch of appearances. Sounds like he's down to the home stretch and it may even be released late this year.