I hear theorists all over the internet swearing up and down that there's no way 2016 will pass without the release of WoW. The saddest part is, I think it's just shared desperation - no one mentions any proof, credible evidence, or logical reason. They just all don't even want to entertain the notion of what the anguish and suffering might be like if we reach 2017 and still don't have this fucking book.

 

Everyone is always going on about Martin being known as a slow writer, but if you look at the first four books he released them all within a 9 year period. But then you get a 6 year wait for Dance and now what looks like another 6-7 year wait for Winds. For first 4 books in 9 years and then 2 following books in about 15ish years? Some are saying it's because of his busy schedule, but I'm beginning to think he has gotten lost on the narrative path to the end of the story without needing ANOTHER book to tie everything up.

Either that or the damn thing has gotten too big for one guy to handle.

 

Yeah, I thought 8 books was more or less a given* . . . ? Or at least an acknowledged possibility.

 

You're counting that wrong. It's the first three books within four years, the next two over an eleven year period, and the last now approaching five years with no hint that it's been even half done to talk of ready for publishing. People know him as a slow writer because he's been a slow writer since the turn of the damn millennium.

 

Something I was considering recently.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I'm not sure what will be Arya's role once she's back in Westeros, but I suspect that the House of Black and White's role in ASoIaF will be mostly cut out from GoT. Assuming she's going to betray them, the question remains about the outcome of it.

While having someone like Jaqen hunt her down in the next season could work, at the same time it's obvious that the show really wants to finish many sub-plots and kill unnecessary characters before its final two season or rather one and half. Because of that I started to wonder if there is a way to actually have the House be destroyed in this season.

I suppose having Arya alone do it wouldn't be very believable, but I doubt it would stop the writers from letting her, if they want them gone.

 

I heard an interesting idea that had to do with that theory from the books that Jaqen is at Old Town, only in the show Arya is going to fill the role so she'll meet Sam and hear about Jon.

 

Makes sense. They could even add some elements of Alleras' role because I doubt they want to include anything more from Dorne.

 

For Arthur Dayne, if I recall correctly, in the show Dawn was never mentioned whenever Arthur was brought up. So he was never known for his sword, just that he was the best knight ever. The shot of Dawn in the show was probably just a shout out to book readers.

As for the dual wielding, this video (https://youtu.be/drd8dQKr-oY) by a professional medieval combat practitioner said he has no issues with the dual wielding, and that it was something done in the past, but not very commonly.

 

"The Sword of the Morning" is mentioned in the scene where Jamie and Joffrey read from the Book of Brothers. Link.

 

Hm, I am getting the feeling that both Ramsay and Littlefinger are going to get double crossed. The Umbers will turn on Ramsay and the Royces will betray Littlefinger.

Calling it now, Jon/Sansa will happen. I saw the way they were looking at each other!

 

You mean the look of not seeing any member of your family in years until now-- after both of you have been through hell and back?

 

Nah, I'm talking about the sex looks, obviously.

 

Wow. Episode 4 is definitely the best of season 6 so far. It even made me smile when Brienne was on screen, telling Davos and Mel about how she killed Stannis. And that ending.

Spoiler

EDIT: Pretty much everything was great in this episode. I hope after that tease in season 4 we're finally getting badass Sansa. I want her and Jon to ride south and forget to stop until they've murdered everyone in King's Landing. Ramsay stabbing Tonks was excellent, very Ramsay. I want him and Jon to have a big fight where Ramsay hacks away at Jon piece by piece until Jon shoves Longclaw through his throat.

 

Was excellent. Sure, Emilia Clark basically only exercised 2 of her 6 acting expressions: "smug superiority face" and "stoic resolute face" but it still came across as bawse.

Spoiler

My fanbrain was like *AllTheThings.jpg* "Yes! Kill ALL the khals! Bwahaha!"

 

So apparently Meereen is soul-sucking enough to remove all satisfaction out of watching even Tyrion do stuff. What do you know.

Also, do we actually know what Jorah's mark means/does?

Spoiler

Holy shit RIP Osha. Did not expect.

Aah, the classic 'Impress the savages with the fire trick' tactic. Always works.

Really digging the Ned Stark hairdo on Jon.

 

He has greyscale, contracted from the Stone Men during his and Tyrion's brief jaunt through outer Valyria.

Basically, he's going to go feral Stone Man style, and then he'll eventually die.

Dead Mormont walking.

 

I'd really love to see Jorah primed for this epic death where he's set to give his life for Danaerys only to be snacked on by one of the dragons.

Really hating Meereen. I'm done with Slavers bay in general and would be happy if Essos was literally Pentos, Braavos and the great grass sea. Fuck Slavers bay and Qarth.

What should eventually happen is Wildlings plus the Vale knights with a few of the Northern houses V Ramsey.

What will probably happen is the setup for that to go ahead only for everything to go to shit in the last minute.

 

1. That has to be the single most flammable building in human history. What the hell is it made up?

2. Wow, Ramsay is an evil bastard. I really needed a reminder about that. I wasn't sure how bad he really was after killing his own father, but unceremoniously killing Tonks like that really hammered it in for me. Thank you, Show Creators, you really understand how to write Ramsay.

3. Quick question: are they ever going to address the fact Melisandre had Shireen burned? Is Davos going to care the Red Woman burned a child he came to know and love?

4. I forgot, what's Margaery actually being charged with on the Show? I know she was accused of fornication and shit in the Books, but unless I'm mistaking something the worst thing she did was lie under oath. A somewhat-serious crime, but does that really merit a Walk of Shame?

 

Have you ever seen the trick where you toss a bunch of sawdust into fire to do fire magic? I imagine there could be that plus and other shit on the floor plus it's an old wooden building in dry terrain plus let's be honest, there was magic involved.

I'd be very okay with burning Mel at the stake to appease the Red God before Jon vs Ramsay.

IIRC it was lying about Loras, but also High Bird is a manipulative old man. Also, I got a slight vibe off vengeance from him when he was telling the story of his cobbler days. With his his smug little smile I imagined him thinking "I wanted to be rich like you but I couldn't, so I'll drag you down into the dirt with me". And he has an easier time living like he does than his prisoners. Cersei fucked up by giving him power and it bit her in the ass.

 

But-... b-b-b-but, Mel revived Jon ... and she had all these shots of her looking sad and cute and sad and stuff ... surely that makes everything she ever did okay?