-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
*UNMARKED SPOILERS ALL BOOKS* Game of Thrones |OT| - Season 5 - Sundays on HBO
- Thread starter Steelyuhas
- Start date
- Status
Theory time:
Maester Aemon is sick
We are getting a ton of R+L=J exposition
We know John is going to try and leave the Watch, probably getting stabbed by Thorne / Olly.
The Pink letter is a questions mark, Ramsey doesn't know Jon, why would he write to him regarding his sister / stannis?
My theory is that that somehow Aemon knows about Jon, on his death bed he will tell him "you are of my blood" or something. Not sure how this would motivate him to leave, Stannis would want him dead at a guess (Targs still hold that name) especially if R&J were married.
I just hope we get the flashback.
Maester Aemon is sick
We are getting a ton of R+L=J exposition
We know John is going to try and leave the Watch, probably getting stabbed by Thorne / Olly.
The Pink letter is a questions mark, Ramsey doesn't know Jon, why would he write to him regarding his sister / stannis?
My theory is that that somehow Aemon knows about Jon, on his death bed he will tell him "you are of my blood" or something. Not sure how this would motivate him to leave, Stannis would want him dead at a guess (Targs still hold that name) especially if R&J were married.
I just hope we get the flashback.
cartoon_soldier
Member
It's not going to be spelled out that clearly.
And yea, I also think that the Pink Letter is out.
I just had a feeling about the Maester being ill leading to something, he always liked Jon etc...
They don't have time to build up Ramsay / Jon for the letter, even Roose doesn't know Jon Snow at a guess.
In a perfect world Nicole Kidman would have played Cersei.
It would work, but she would be unlikely to commit to a long term TV project like this. I'm sure she wouldn't mind doing a cameo where they use CG and make-up to deage her back to a teenager though!
If only HBO had the budget for that.
toastyToast
Member
One thing that's got me wondering is how does Cersei's misguided maneouvering even work with how old Tommen is? He's big enough not to need a regent.
Basileus777
Member
Even Joffrey had a regent. Besides, his age doesn't really change Cersei's motivation, which is the fear of the younger and more beautiful queen and her family's influence.
Regarding a potential flashback, apart from trippy visions, was the season opener with young Cersei the first one they've done? I can't recall anything else, and it caught me off guard a little bit.
If Bran's story was present in this season, maybe they could have had Howland Reed turn up somewhere. Book or Show, he's the only living person to have been there with Ned. Other than that, I'm curious as to who could tell Jon. With Mel doing a party trick with "you know nothing Jon Snow", maybe he will just see it in the flames.
Anyone know if Sean Bean has been spotted anywhere? :-D
If Bran's story was present in this season, maybe they could have had Howland Reed turn up somewhere. Book or Show, he's the only living person to have been there with Ned. Other than that, I'm curious as to who could tell Jon. With Mel doing a party trick with "you know nothing Jon Snow", maybe he will just see it in the flames.
Anyone know if Sean Bean has been spotted anywhere? :-D
cartoon_soldier
Member
bengraven
Member
Maybe I'm fanboying I suppose...or canon-whoring over the smallest details. part of me is like "When this is debated years from now on the origins of grayscale, will we use the tv show in our debates or go by only George's written accounts?"
Nerding.
I had this spoiled about two weeks ago for me. But the person was like "I'm not sure if he's dead, but he looks dead..." and I just assumed he wasn't...fake out.
I'm wondering about the vouching. I think Barristan would have been much more skeptical of Tyrion, just as he was with Jorah. If he lives to see Tyrion in the books, I think he'll be even harder on him. He wants his Kelly C surrounded by capable people and he won't trust news from overseas, especially out of the Imp's mouth. Though if he's a secret Targ, then I suppose Barry would be the one who knew.
I've talked about this before, but Tyrion is going to have to prove quite a bit to Dan. I'm guessing it hinges on his knowledge of dragons - remember that he's read books on them, while Dani has had to play by ear.
I still think we're going to see a scene like him in prison and Dany tells him she's going to make him rot in there until he tells her the truth...or she'll have her boys roast him alive.
And Tyrion will be like "boys? the pale one is a female. and btw, she's pregnant...".
Instant dragon handler.
Not sure if you know this, but that's actually who Martin had in mind for her. When he was writing her, he thought of Kidman perhaps.
Latvian Hitman
Member
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/01/ser-barristan-dead-thrones
People are still ignoring this, I see.
She's probably @AngryGoTFan and just used the wrong account to tweet from.
SquiddyCracker
Banned
The more I think about it, the more I like the way Selmy was killed off.
GoT is all about subverting the watcher's expectations by not adhering to your typical tropes, such as the bad ass warrior meeting death in an epic fashion.
Here, we instead get the old dude who used to be a bad ass warrior dying in an alley to some no-names - and no one saw it coming!
It is absolutely genius imho, and it's keeping the show fresh and full of surprises even if you're a book reader.
GoT is all about subverting the watcher's expectations by not adhering to your typical tropes, such as the bad ass warrior meeting death in an epic fashion.
Here, we instead get the old dude who used to be a bad ass warrior dying in an alley to some no-names - and no one saw it coming!
It is absolutely genius imho, and it's keeping the show fresh and full of surprises even if you're a book reader.
bodyofanamerican
Member
No, both Roose and Ramsay know about him. Reek told them last season, remember when he sent Locke to go find Bran and Rickon?
Yeah, I remember something like that. He also wanted Peter Dinklage unsurprisingly.
The Albatross
Member
You have a point here, but while GRRM always writes in this "death can be around every corner" mantra that most characters follow, the major named characters typically get major named deaths. From Book 1 all of the intelligent characters talk about how they can be killed off at any moment by any roving rambler in the wilds or by any soldier in battle that doesn't actually happen to any significant characters (that I can remember).
To me it doesn't introduce an 'anything can happen' feeling, but a 'what you're telling us about characters isn't consistent' attitude. I care less about the Unsullied going down than Selmy because throughout the books and the shows he's considered an aged but incredible knight still capable of cutting down some of the nimblest of men... Which is one of the main reasons he's so valuable and respected by other characters in the story. When his first bit of combat on air is him being cut apart by mostly nobodies in an alley, it cheapens that.
SquiddyCracker
Banned
Exactly!
Because of that, there's no longer any suspense, as you know that Jaime and Bronn won't die on that beach to some no-name soldiers. With the death of Selmy though, we no longer have that "rule" to guide our expectations in any upcoming scene - anything can now absolutely happen.
Tyrion could get shanked by a thief.
Jaime could fall off his horse and break his neck.
Stannis could die from a heart attack.
The way I view it, GRRM has created a new trope ("anyone can die, but major characters will die in spectacular ways"), and the show runners are now subverting it.
PhoenixDark
Banned
I know he's dead but I'm curious whether he'll live long enough to speak with Dany one last time. Probably not given the title of the episode suggests Aemon will die, and he'll presumably tell Jon something on his deathbed. They won't do that twice in one episode.
Given that Stannis' sword has been completely forgotten on the show since S2E1 I wonder if Aemon will give Jon something else (instead of the Jade Conpendium).
Given that Stannis' sword has been completely forgotten on the show since S2E1 I wonder if Aemon will give Jon something else (instead of the Jade Conpendium).
cartoon_soldier
Member
Rewatching the fight Selmy fucking kills 12 Harpies.
Why the fuck are people upset
Why the fuck are people upset
Ah, of course.
Exterminieren
Banned
If he isn't a Terminator he's being unfaithful to the books, apparently.
But what if just before he died a witch shows up, turns him into a frog and he has to live the rest of his days as an amphibian? Maybe santa shows up at some point. Totally unexpected, genius!
Because if he wasn't taking a piss, then the show took one.
Basileus777
Member
Apparently he needed to be the Westerosi old man equivalent of Legolas.
Why insult him in such an untoward, hostile manner?
Even Gimli beat Legolas.
If anything, Barristan is Gimli 2.0.
BobTheFork
Member
Given the Jon's parentage will likely become a story point soon (they have been teasing it) do they bring in Howland Reed or have it be a vision in the fire? They never bothered mentioning Howland was with Ned but there COULD still be a flashback.
At this point I wonder if it's something that's revealed to Jon himself or just the audience. Unless he ends up being in line to rule Westeros for some reason, there not much of a reason for him to know.
At this point I wonder if it's something that's revealed to Jon himself or just the audience. Unless he ends up being in line to rule Westeros for some reason, there not much of a reason for him to know.
Moff
Member
in the show, the tower of joy will be 5 kingsguards against ned and mace tyrell. mace will find arya in braavos and tell her everything.
PhoenixDark
Banned
I'm moreso annoyed at Barristan's death than feeling it couldn't happen. A single swordsman against multiple enemies...fine. Nevermind that Barristan walking around with no armor makes no sense. Overall though fine, no problem.
But the Unsullied getting decimated by dudes with knives in a tight area is just bad writing. No discipline, no nothing. Plot demanded they die so they did.
But the Unsullied getting decimated by dudes with knives in a tight area is just bad writing. No discipline, no nothing. Plot demanded they die so they did.
Anton Sugar
Member
Barring the kill count, it was just was a poorly choreographed and edited sequence.
Revealing Jon's parentage this season coul be kind of a clusterfuck, he will have his hands full with the Boltons and Hardhome and stuff. I think it's one of those things that work better at the beginning of the season, next one to be precise.
Intheflorsh
Banned
I think you could make a case for the logistics of Selmy's death, but don't act like him getting stabbed by random mooks in robes after 4+ seasons of hyping up his talents was anything but anticlimatic.
Steelyuhas
Member
I do agree that it is something fitting in this narrative universe that a legendary knight dies in some back alley at the edge of the world.
Subverting the genre trope of heroic warriors and heroes getting heroic and glorious deaths is something that George instilled in his books from the beginning.
That said, I still don't like Barry's death, but after thinking about it for the day and half since it aired, it might just be because as an audience member, a character I liked was denied the glory that I wanted for him.
Subverting the genre trope of heroic warriors and heroes getting heroic and glorious deaths is something that George instilled in his books from the beginning.
That said, I still don't like Barry's death, but after thinking about it for the day and half since it aired, it might just be because as an audience member, a character I liked was denied the glory that I wanted for him.
Intheflorsh
Banned
Usually when the show/books subvert fantasy tropes, they manage to do it in a shocking or cruelly ironic way. This was just a flat "oh, I guess he's dead now".
Anton Sugar
Member
Just when I thought I had wiped that scene from my memory.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Never forget.
Steelyuhas
Member
Yeah I'm not saying I loved the execution, just that I understand the perspective.
I assume from a plot perspective, they want him out of the way for Dany to make some questionable decisions without Barristan's wise council. And for Tyrion of course, which I'm very curious about how Tyrion will manage to convince Dany he'll be of service to her (in both show and book).
Neogriff remembers...and makes you remember
- Status