HBO: Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire)

[epilogue]

I would never use the phrase "the dragon queen."

[Simple Torture]

Yet another example of how disconnected I am from the mainstream. I haven't seen one episode of this show and don't even really care to.

I really should have guessed this one and am kicking myself now.

[Simple Torture]

I would never use the phrase "the dragon queen."

"the mother of dragons"?

I am happy you did not dispute the rest of that quote.

[epilogue]

I would never use the phrase "the dragon queen."

"the mother of dragons"?

I am happy you did not dispute the rest of that quote.

[Anders]

Less than a week away now--we should be getting at least the first episode's title soon! Let's try to guess RMers' reactions to the first episode, sight unseen. Feel free to add your own:

"Very promising. Can't wait to see where it goes." -Anders

"Who was that guy with the sword? I feel like I remember him from an earlier season but it's not ringing a bell." -Monkey_Driven

"[something Stannis related]" -mecca

"This will end with Jon on the Iron Throne. Confirmed." - dime

"It was a tough world back then, rape happens. Could we get some more rape for the next episode?" -bammer

"The grace and poise that Sansa showed as she ceded Winterfell to the dragon queen was an absolute stunner. The power exuded by the women on this show--even when they are deferring, and especially when they are deferring to each other--is remarkable and inspiring." - durdencommatyler

"Fan fiction." -chud

[Biff Pocoroba]

This is (finally) getting close.

[dimejinky99]

My bold prediction.

Arya will be last one standing and take the iron throne as regent until Jon and Danys son comes of age to take over. Cos they’re both gonna die.

[epilogue]

Do we have an "official predictions" form/list going yet?

[bada]

Lots of tits and dragons.

[Simple Torture]

Lots of tits and dragons.

Probably going to hit a series low for tits this year.

[Bammer]

Less than a week away now--we should be getting at least the first episode's title soon! Let's try to guess RMers' reactions to the first episode, sight unseen. Feel free to add your own:

"Very promising. Can't wait to see where it goes." -Anders

"Who was that guy with the sword? I feel like I remember him from an earlier season but it's not ringing a bell." -Monkey_Driven

"[something Stannis related]" -mecca

"This will end with Jon on the Iron Throne. Confirmed." - dime

"It was a tough world back then, rape happens. Could we get some more rape for the next episode?" -bammer

"The grace and poise that Sansa showed as she ceded Winterfell to the dragon queen was an absolute stunner. The power exuded by the women on this show--even when they are deferring, and especially when they are deferring to each other--is remarkable and inspiring." - durdencommatyler

"Fan fiction." -chud

Uhhh... Ok

[Simple Torture]

Do we have an "official predictions" form/list going yet?

I think the prevailing wisdom right now (taking in lots of opinions from podcasts, articles, etc.) includes the following:

Alive After SE08EP06: Jon, Dany, their baby, Tyrion, Arya, Sansa, Yara

Dead After SE08EP06: Jaime, Brienne, Davos, Cersei, The Mountain, Jorah

Unclear After SE08EP06: The Hound, Qyburn, Bran, Pod the Sex God, Bronn, Tormund, Night King

The Hot Take of the Month right now is that the Iron Throne won't exist after this season, figuratively and/or literally (Dany could melt it down as a sign that that era of Westorosi history has ended). I am...not entirely on board with this. Highly doubt that the Seven Kingdoms could go back to independence and peaceful co-existence. What would Dany do if she survives, act as a UN w/ dragons, pressuring the rulers of each area to treat their people well and to use diplomacy to resolve disputes Or Else? She might as well be a queen in that scenario.

[Simple Torture]

I meant to also add that Theon is probably also toast.

[Simple Torture]

Two of my pet questions I'd like to get answers to are:

1. Will the White Walkers speak? I think the show would get 1000% more interesting if they attempt to persuade the remaining humans to give up vs. just attacking them. Learning what they actually want and what their motivations are would help make their story matter more as opposed to them just being bogeymen.

2. Will we find out about the connections between the magic/religions in the show that actually matter? It's pretty clear that the Faith of the Seven is just human-created mythology, as is the Dothraki mythos (Night Lands, Stallion Who Mounts the World, etc.), and--in the show at least--the Drowned God is just a story the Iron Islanders tell themselves. But it's clear that the Old Gods/Children of the Forest, R'hllor, and the Others have teeth behind them, that there are supernatural elements at play. Are there connections between them that will be teased out? There are certainly some suggestions--thinking Melisandre--that there's a Manichaeistic element to some people's thinking (Red God vs. Great Other), but that doesn't facotr in the Old Gods. This questions doesn't have to be answered for me (although it's something I hope the books give a LOT of time to), but I'll be on the lookout for it.

[bada]

Lots of tits and dragons.

Probably going to hit a series low for tits this year.

I'm out.

[Simple Torture]

Lots of tits and dragons.

Probably going to hit a series low for tits this year.

I'm out.

But dragons will be at an all-time high.

[Chris_H_2]

read a fan theory this morning that i hope comes true:

Spoiler: show

everything comes in 7's in this show, and it would make sense to have a surprise, unannounced 7th episode that is the true series finale on the heels of what is being advertised as the series finale (the latter in which something drastic happens and pisses a lot of people off, only to be redeemed with the former)

[E.H. Ruddock]

read a fan theory this morning that i hope comes true:

Spoiler: show

everything comes in 7's in this show, and it would make sense to have a surprise, unannounced 7th episode that is the true series finale on the heels of what is being advertised as the series finale (the latter in which something drastic happens and pisses a lot of people off, only to be redeemed with the former)

That seems a bit dramatic, even by GoT standards

[Simple Torture]

read a fan theory this morning that i hope comes true:

Spoiler: show

everything comes in 7's in this show, and it would make sense to have a surprise, unannounced 7th episode that is the true series finale on the heels of what is being advertised as the series finale (the latter in which something drastic happens and pisses a lot of people off, only to be redeemed with the former)

That seems a bit dramatic, even by GoT standards

It reminds me of when people would argue that leaked Tool albums weren't the real albums, that the band had actually produced two separate records so that fans would be surprised on release day.

[Simple Torture]

Also, just in general, hate the watered down use of the word "theory." R+L=J was a theory because there was a mountain of evidence you could pick apart to try and prove it was coming. Same with something like The Hound not being dead. Tyrion being a Targaryen is a theory because there is juuuust enough circumstantial evidence to make an argument for it. Coming up with a fantasy of there being a secret seventh episode is not a theory (neither is something like, say, imagining that Get Out and Being John Malkovich exist in the same universe because they share an actor and some themes/plot points in common).