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

[tragabigzanda]

Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.

[lowlight79]

"Game of Thrones" showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff caused a stir earlier this year when they suggested that the next (and final?) two seasons of "Game of Thrones" would be shorter than seasons past, encompassing just 13 episodes between them. Now, one of the show's directors has confirmed that an abbreviated season seven is indeed in order.

Jack Bender, who helmed two recent season six episodes, "The Door" and "Blood of My Blood," spoke with Vanity Fair about his work on "Thrones." When asked directly whether or not he'd return for the recently-ordered season seven, Bender told VF, "I don't know how to answer that."

He continued:
They're only doing seven [episodes], and they've got their regulars who have done it forever. I know that I had a wonderful experience doing the show and I know that Dan and David are thrilled with the shows. ... I haven't been asked yet and I also don't know what their schedule is going to be. But under the best of circumstances, schedule and everything, I had a great experience doing the show. If available and they wanted me to, I would love to do that."

Bender also noted that his availability for season seven is up in the air because he's working on launching a TV series based on Stephen King's "Mr. Mercedes" book trilogy. But we can't imagine he'd say no to "Thrones" if given the opportunity to return to Westeros.

Still, the takeaway for fans is that "GOT" really is coming to an end, and it looks like it will be approaching a lot sooner than viewers would like. At least we can take solace in the fact that the show has been on fire lately -- literally -- and will likely continue its excellent recent run of episodes through to the series's finish.

They need to get bender back for a ep. Maybe even Alan Taylor who directed some early episodes.

[patrick]

"Game of Thrones" showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff caused a stir earlier this year when they suggested that the next (and final?) two seasons of "Game of Thrones" would be shorter than seasons past, encompassing just 13 episodes between them. Now, one of the show's directors has confirmed that an abbreviated season seven is indeed in order.

Jack Bender, who helmed two recent season six episodes, "The Door" and "Blood of My Blood," spoke with Vanity Fair about his work on "Thrones." When asked directly whether or not he'd return for the recently-ordered season seven, Bender told VF, "I don't know how to answer that."

He continued:
They're only doing seven [episodes], and they've got their regulars who have done it forever. I know that I had a wonderful experience doing the show and I know that Dan and David are thrilled with the shows. ... I haven't been asked yet and I also don't know what their schedule is going to be. But under the best of circumstances, schedule and everything, I had a great experience doing the show. If available and they wanted me to, I would love to do that."

Bender also noted that his availability for season seven is up in the air because he's working on launching a TV series based on Stephen King's "Mr. Mercedes" book trilogy. But we can't imagine he'd say no to "Thrones" if given the opportunity to return to Westeros.

Still, the takeaway for fans is that "GOT" really is coming to an end, and it looks like it will be approaching a lot sooner than viewers would like. At least we can take solace in the fact that the show has been on fire lately -- literally -- and will likely continue its excellent recent run of episodes through to the series's finish.

I guess this confirms how close to the end we are if there are what, less than 20 hours of story left? I wonder if they'll make some eps longer and give some scenes more space to develop.

[Monkey_Driven]

I'm glad they picked a definitive end date. This season has really benefited from the accelerated pace of certain plot lines. I hope the shorter seasons don't cut the character development however.

[spike]

i just hope there isn't a year or two between the abbreviated seasons. that's always so maddening.

[BurtReynolds]

So what horrible thing is going to happen in the last two episodes? This season has been way too easy on the good guys.

[bada]

Dany breaks her neck falling off a horse.

[Mike]

Theon and Yara bring Dany ships, they sail for Westeros and then Euron comes in and totally wrecks them at sea.

[EJ]

Theon and Yara bring Dany ships, they sail for Westeros and then Euron comes in and totally wrecks them at sea.

Theon will sacrifice himself to take out Euron. He'll acquire some wildfire and cover himself I it before kamikazeing into Euron's ship.

[tragabigzanda]

Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.

[epilogue]

I hope Theon's death fucking hurts. And I hope it's shameful. And I hope if it's some kind of sacrifice, that it doesn't work. Fuck that guy.

[tommymtcom]

Jesus Joey. I hope Theon finds peace.

[epilogue]

Jesus Joey. I hope Theon finds peace.

There is no possible redemption for Theon Greyjoy (tv version). The only person who deserves a violent and shameful death more than Theon is Ramsay. Theon is a complete piece of shit. He doesn't deserve your pity/peace.

[BurtReynolds]

Is Theon South American or something?

[BurtReynolds]

Rickon gonna get flayed.

[Simple Torture]

Rickon gonna get flayed.

What about Dickon?

[BurtReynolds]

Rickon gonna get flayed.

What about Dickon?

flayed. All of them will be flayed by the end. Flay them all.

[epilogue]

Rickon gonna get flayed.

What about Dickon?

flayed. All of them will be flayed by the end. Flay them all.

Start with Theon.

[spike]

So what horrible thing is going to happen in the last two episodes? This season has been way too easy on the good guys.

Ramsay doesn't die.

[Bammer]

I DO like that theory floating around that

Spoiler: show

It was Jaqen wearing Arya's face.

1. Walked like Jaqen, wore hair parted down the middle, threw the coin with the right hand (Arya is left handed)

2. Was too obvious. Arya would have never asked for a cabin. The money was thrown around too casually, even if she was capable of stealing such a sum.

3. Lingering shot of statue on the bridge, maybe sorry to leave. Arya hasn’t been there that long, doesn’t have a particular fondness for the place. Could have stowed away as a cabin boy too easily

4. Jaqen’s life belongs to her. He promised her 3 lives to take for the Red God. He took 2, then she named him as her 3rd. Instead of dying he bargained and agreed to help her escape but then when he left he gave her the coin and told her to come to Braavos. And he gave her the words Valar Morghulis, all men must die. Knowing what we know about their relationship with death there would have been no bargain really. He believes in death

His life is owed to the Red God. No bargain can change his fate and he knows it. He willingly dies in Arya’s place, wearing her face, to fulfill the contract on his own life. He also was testing the Waif who did not fulfill the contract correctly by doing a belly wound instead of killing quickly. Waif is going to go out before he is gone officially. Scenes from next week show Waif running/ chasing possible real Arya.

That's kinda fun.

Spoiler: show

Wouldn't she have to be dead for someone else to wear her face?