TV by the Numbers lists the cable ratings for last Sunday. Once more, as every week so far, the list is topped by Game of Thrones (okay, the NBA playoffs matched it this week, to be fair). The viewership of the initial airing has reached a new high with 3.903 million viewers! The 18-49 demographic ratings of 1.9 confirm the good performance. Rejoice :)
The 11 p.m. encore added a bit over 0.8 million additional pairs of eyes for an evening total of 4.7 million.
Hear Me Roar: The ratings have been rock-solid steady overall through the weeks; is this the beginning of an upward trend for the remainder of the season? A man hopes.
Loading ...
174 Comments
And this is what I was waiting for!
I knew that Shadowbaby cliffhanger would have people turning GoTs on first airing. Hopfully the trend continues and we break 4 million next week!
Last Sundays episode was really good too. I am thinking that sank the hook into the cheek of the TV viewer just a little deeper.
As someone already stated, the first four episodes was just the rollercoaster being cranked to the top of its peek. Now we get to throw our hands up and enjoy the thrill of the fast and exciting ride.
ArthurQuote Reply
Not surprising in the least. Like I said after Episode 4, the more people threaten to stop watching, the higher the ratings rise. America is full of liars and hypocrites.
Carey TranQuote Reply
Nicee! Next week were definetly breaking 4mil. And this weeks episode was by far the best of the season so far.
Wrath of the GodsQuote Reply
As expected after the terrific shadowbaby ending in episode 4. Hopefully the numbers will continue rising!
AzusQuote Reply
Seems like another good end of episode cliff hanger would be the alleged deaths of Bran and Rickon. That would be another good way to get people to tune in the following week.
Duff ManQuote Reply
Duff Man,
I’m so curious about how they play this out on TV. It’s vital to Catelyn releasing Jamie, so I doubt they can cut it.
PaulQuote Reply
Still so, so happy about the near 4 mill ratings. The second half will be (even) more exiting, and I expect a slightly higher average in season 3 – which of course will be even more popular, since the story is even better.
It’s really just season 5 and beyond that I’m unsure about now. I dare expect we’ll get at least the 5th, since 3 and 4 will be amazing. But after those two, D&D (in particular) has their work cut out for them. It’s very doable, just a little harder.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I wonder if HBO cares much about first viewing — if they view it as a certain level of intensity of liking a show if people take time to watch it immediately — or if they really don’t care.
I’m glad the initial showing is still climbing — though I believe both Week 1 (three showings) and Week 2 (two showings) both had better Sundays, technically.
The first season took about half a season to get going in terms of the show getting rolling, and by adding many new characters and locations, I think this season has done the same (also think D&D have intentionally stacked a lot of stuff in the back half so everyone has a climax to their story at the end of the show). Eps 7-10 were really spectacular and I think the ratings jumped to reflect it.
I find it hard to believe people are jumping into the story at this point, but I also know a lot of people who are just watching season one on demand or online. Perhaps we will see a big jump over the end of the season.
I’d love to see the DVR+7 numbers (or whatever they are called) pass True Blood. While these ratings are enough to sustain GOT, the budget is just so big — being the network’s #1 show would be a nice safety.
AlanQuote Reply
There is a quick glance of a what appears to be confirmation that they have NOT cut “it” from the show. It is in the House Greyjoy feature.
Here’s a screengrab of said scene (look under the direwolf banners)… don’t click on the link if you don’t want D&D’s interpertation spoiled in any way: The Miller Boys?
Of course, we don’t know how they’ll handle it… how long they’ll keep the charade up on the show… or maybe the ploy will even be made obvious to the viewers from the start (I highly doubt that). My guess is they tease it out until the final episode… maybe even the final scene – maybe with a tight shot of Bran & Co walking out of the crypts, then slowly panning out to show the ruins of Winterfell.
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
I was sure it’s going to be the same thing as last year when people threteaned to stop watching after Ned died . The ratings have gone up instead so I hope the whole stop watching thing is getting old now .
Claudiu GherganuQuote Reply
Well, from the preview, Theon definitely takes Winterfell, and Catelyn and Robb definitely get word of that. Whether that becomes the instigation for Cat (“I could lose my boys”) and the “slaughter” of Bran and Rickon happens later or happens now is, I think, something that seems to be up in the air.
I think there’s a real desire to give Nicolaj something to do right now. From the preview, Cat is back, so… Nicolaj and Brienne can get on with their story. Maybe not this episode, but very soon, since we haven’t seen the guy. I suspect Episode Six or Seven may end with Theon “killing” Bran and Rickon. Nicolaj’s favorite scene could be before his escape, and his escape could happen in 8 if Theon spends one episode taking Winterfell and dealing with dissent and one episode ending that. Nine is Blackwater and Ten is Brienne and Jaimes starting their adventure/Bran is ALIVE!
AlanQuote Reply
Alan,
You also got to remember that while here in the states, GoTs is playing second fiddle to TB (as far as ratings go). However, overseas from what the ratings say and people who post on this site, GoTs is the more populare show by far.
So if you look at the big picture (worldwide ratings) GoTs just might be HBOs #1 show.
ArthurQuote Reply
“And this weeks episode was by far the best of the season so far.”
It’s amazing how differing the opinions are on the episodes from week to week. I considered last episode the worst of the series, while others considered it the best of the season. I guess that can be attributed to consistency.
SeanQuote Reply
sjwenings,
With respect to Season 5+ I think they’ll have to take the opposite approach to adapting Storm of Swords over 2 seasons and basically merge Feast for Crows with Dance with Dragons. There really isn’t enough in either book on it’s own to provide 10 episodes which maintain the standards so far achieved.
CalumQuote Reply
Sean,
Yeah, I suspect that as time goes by, all this argument over which episodes were good & which were bad is going to look pretty silly. The show is remarkably consistent from week to week – perhaps because it’s less of a 10-week show and more of a 10-hour movie.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
I really hope they get ahead of the curve in terms of writing. They almost HAVE to now. it will help if they feel Bryan Cogman and Vanessa Taylor have proven themselves.
I think Book 4/5 have better stories than people give credit for. Cersei and Theon have phenomenally awesome stories. Dany and Jon have stories that are very relatable to current politics, so with a bit of spice, they could be very good.
The issues are there, though. Is it really two seasons? Tyrion is not only wandering, but it’s many location sand expensive. How does Winds of Winter — which really contains the end of whatever you would call Books 4-6.5 — play? Arya has a nice story, but it isn’t two seasons. What the heck happens to Sam? There’s a whole plot that we haven’t heard from.
There is certainly going to be a temptation to make this one season. It might actually work. Especially if you were to be selective and cut certain plotlines. I love the two Dornish plotlines… but I’m not sure yet that you need them. Same with Victation, etc. (Well, I hate that one, but…) Or as much of them.
It might also be too crowded and rushed. Perhaps by then HBO will be okay with an 18 month wait and okay a fifteen episode season?
AlanQuote Reply
Calum,
Since I’m positive that parts of AFfC & ADwD will be in the next two seasons, I definitely agree that the remainder of those two books will be condensed into one season, keeping the number of seasons consistent with the books. We may even see some bits from TWoW tacked on to the end to give that season… Well, an end. Or a satisfying one, in any case. That gives ol’ Georgie roughly two years to finish up the next book, unless he plans on divulging the information necessary for D&D to do their job.
It may seem a bit privelaged for me to think this, but G.R.R.M. really needs to get focused and pick up the pace on this series. We know he can churn it out quickly and now more than ever he needs to do so. I really loved AFfC, however ADwD was not on the level of the other four books. For the sake of both the fanbase of the novels and the show, he needs to get his ass in gear.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
Happy to see this, I kind of hoped it would happen after how strong last week’s episode was. General consensus that I’ve read around the net is that most people found this week’s episode very dull (myself included, to a point) – but everyone has different views, so who knows what next week’s ratings will do!
Matt NQuote Reply
Mike from Braavos,
I don’t think that would be a good idea to keep the audience thinking Bran and Rickon are dead for many weeks, even one week might be a bad idea. I think if they plan on making the audience think their dead they should reveal at the very end of the same episode that they are still alive. Especially when you look at images like the one you posted with the dead children hanging under the banners I dont think it would be a good idea to make the audience think that is actually Bran and Rickon. And nowadays with the internet I doubt the fact that they are still alive would be able to be kept from nonreaders.
JamesLQuote Reply
Matt N,
I’ve read quite the opposite, actually.
babarQuote Reply
Pastor_of_Muppets,
On the contrary, I thought ADwD was much better than AFfC. Everyone has their own rankings. Mine would be 3-1-5-2-4. Even with that, I enjoyed AFfC very much.
RoQuote Reply
I think you’re underestimating the viewers. They can handle it. As a book reader, I handled it. I read slowly so I didn’t know for weeks what happened. I survived and the story was much richer for me having actually felt something while reading it. I think it would be a disservice to the viewers to placate and assume they will be too emotionally wrought to continue watching.
My 2 cents of course
KingthlayerQuote Reply
There’s no way they condense AFFC and ADWD into *one* season. Two seasons for the two books makes a lot of sense. There will have to be a ton of cutting and condensing just to get it down to that amount of time, but that’s to be expected.
James BrookesQuote Reply
I’m a huge fan of this series! I hope HBO continues to have great success with everything as the adapt the novel series. I made a fan video that edited Season 1 reactions from what happened to Ned Stark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q09Py-E6BEo
BrianQuote Reply
great news i just hope GOT can surpass true blood ratings in america by the end of the season.
jonathan s.sQuote Reply
Ro,
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed ADwD, but what keeps it from being on the same level as the other books for me is the fact that there really wasn’t an ending. It just sort of stopped, whereas I didn’t finish any of the other books with that same sense of dissatisfaction.
If ol’ Georgie was confident enough to shit all over Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof over their ending (and the last couple seasons, really) for Lost, he’d better be able to back it up. Basically his complaint was that they didn’t seem to have had things planned out, resulting in meandering storylines and characters kind of stuck in a rut… I don’t think I need to mention how ironic that is, given that those have been the biggest complaints leveled against his last two novels in the series (not saying that all of those criticisms are valid, but still). So if George truly has an ending in mind, and has planned accordingly (despite the Meerenese knot, which should now be wrapped up and resolved for the most part) it should be full steam ahead from here on out.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
That’s true, and I’m glad to see it. When it was first announced, I just wanted it to happen. Then I wanted it to be good. Now I’m greedy. I want the whole story.
Even if it could get tough! (Full size dragon battles?)
AlanQuote Reply
I think it’ll be 3 seasons for ASOS+AFFC+ADWD+beginning of TWOW. Storm is eventful, but not 2 seasons’ worth of eventful. And while I think there’s a lot of great material in AFFC and ADWD, time, budget, & attention limitations suggest it’ll have to be severely cut/reworked.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
I’m expecting them to move quite a bit of Feat and Dance into season 4 to finish off Storm. Maybe they’ll get up to the Kingsmoot.
sunspearQuote Reply
the ratings will keep rising from ep 4…. no surprise there.
there are some real epic scenes coming in the upcoming episodes. the Jaime/Breanne story, Arya/Rickon/Bran and many other stories have to still play out.
I’m not going to post any spoilers for sure… but this much is confirmed that the ratings will keep rising from now on.
Only thing which dissapointed me about the 5th episode was Arya not killing TheTickler. I guess it wuldn’t have made any sense cause there was no backstory or any scene that wuld have justified Arya killing TheTickler. But I guess they will have Arya kill someone else in coming episodes.
BRAVO!!!!!!!
KaMrAnAhMeDQuote Reply
Alan,
But doesn’t NCW’s “favorite scene” have to be his sword fight with Brienne? And that’s AFTER his “escape.” What happens before his escape that could be NCW’s favorite scene?
Yellow DogQuote Reply
Just reading a few of the comments here, I’m wondering if the two orphan boys that Bran sent to help the shepherd this week will play any kind of role in the Winterfell storyline.
ANiceChiantiQuote Reply
This is a good site to go to if you want to gauge the ratings pattern of GoTs per 1st airing so far…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Game_of_Thrones_episodes
ArthurQuote Reply
Didn’t GRRM say that part of the Ironborn stuff in Feast coinsided with A Storm of Swords? I would think this makes sense.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
If there was no HBO GO the ratings would be higher, that is how I watch the show, since I don’t own a TV.
I actaully paid a friend to get HBO.
Considering it matched the NBA playoffs, that is very impressive.
ghostQuote Reply
ANiceChianti,
I would bet on it. That was the most impactful part of the last episode for me.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
I assumed it was actually Jaime trying (and ultimately failing) to escape. I think that could be a cool thing to see
JoeQuote Reply
Crossing fingers for 4 million for the final!!!
LalaQuote Reply
That’s my feel as well, but let’s see if that’s true, just off the cuff:
Full storylines that seem absolutely needed:
1. Jon’s command of the Wall
2. Theon and Reek and Winterfell
3. Bran and Bloodraven
4. Stannis’ March on Winterfell
5. Cersei and Margaery and the Faith and Jaime and the Kingsguard
6. Dany’s occupation of Mereen
7. Tyrion’s journey East (they aren’t going to cut Tyrion’s time — even if they change it)
8. Arya’s training
Storylines that could be eliminated, shortened or are already short:
1. Sansa and Littlefinger in the Eyrie (it’s not action packed)
2. Sam’s trip to Old Town. I know we all want to see the fat, pink mast but he can just get there.
3. Dorne in Book 4 and Quentyn in Book 5. I love both storylines, and I love most of the characters. They will play a role, I think, but this could still be reduced to “off-screen” — Myrcella maimed; and Quentyn could be reduced to just his interaction with Dany. Note: I love the Quentyn storyline, but it doesn’t seem necessary.
4. Asha, Euron and Victarion. Doubt it will be cut, but the Kingsmoot could be very short; Asha is largely there in 5 to show Stannis, and Victarion, eh.
5. Brienne’s book 4 wanderings. I love Brienne’s storyline, but it could be eliminated.
And the one I don’t know: Aegon.
Overall, I think all the first group could be done in one season. And all the rest could be shortened or cut. The series would lose something, and many of the episodes would feel that rushed feeling (one scene an ep for everyone)!
But it could be done. Much more than ACOK, it would be nice to get a few extra episodes if they look to combine. The other issue is that obviously the real end to ADwD is actually in tWoW for some characters.
AlanQuote Reply
Actors’ favorite scenes are often like Charles Dance’s in the last episode (The Arya-Tywin scene was his fav, I believe). A scene with tremendous emotional impact, great dialogue, etc. I’m not saying NCW doesn’t prefer the scene you mention, but it just as easily it could be dialogue between him and say, Catelyn.
In fact, if its the thing he’s most proud of as an actor, I’d put my money on an emotional scene. Not sure of what his wording was.
AlanQuote Reply
Not necessarily… he may have been referring to it strictly from an ACTING standpoint – in which case it could the scene where he admits to shoving Bran, and then swears an oath to Catelyn. Or maybe they do a big action scene with the failed jail break attempt.
The fight with Brienne seems to far off.
Of course, it could very well be something entirely different than what’s in the books too.
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
Alan,
I thought that he said somewhere that the scene was all filthy and muddy. I guess you could have a big emotional filthy/muddy scene, but it seems to imply that there was at least some action involved.
ANiceChiantiQuote Reply
Mike from Braavos,
Very true. Although I was also thinking of it from an acting standpoint – all the Thrones actors love the swordplay, and the Jaime-Brienne fight has to be the best one in all the books – even better than Jon and Quorin.
Edit – I think he said in the interview that it was his “most enjoyable” acting experience.
Yellow DogQuote Reply
Joe,
I assumed it was actually Jaime trying (and ultimately failing) to escape. I think that could be a cool thing to see
Yes I agree.
I think Nik’s fav scene will be his failed attempt at escaping. We will finally get to see what one of the greatest swordsmen in Westeros is capable of! Cant wait!
I bet you it is Nik’s fav because he probably had to work hours/days on the moves for the proper choreography. D&D actually hired a swordsmaster this season, just for stuff like this! EPIC!
Later on, Cat frees him and sends Brienne off with him…
ArthurQuote Reply
In a video I saw (the comicon panel maybe? I forget) NCW said his favorite scene from season 1 was his scene with Catelyn near the end so maybe his pick really would be swearing his oath to Catelyn, as it marks the first step of Jaime seeking, if not redemption, a new direction in life
As for the ratings, really happy to see it.
LordStarkingtonQuote Reply
ANiceChianti,
If you recall the “Making Game of Thrones” videos that were released before the season premiered, you will see that there is a scene in which Jaime is being dragged through the mud, possibly beaten by the northmen. It could happen after the failed escape attempt.
SerianoQuote Reply
Alan,
Just having all the Dorn stuff happen off screen would go a long way in keeping the show lean and not get overly bloated with new/old characters.
Oi!Quote Reply
I think they’ll follow the books pretty loosely after this season in terms of what is in each book. Probably they’ll divide each character arc from the 3 next books whenever they want for the next 3-5 seasons.
Well, they are doing that right now also, not many character arcs will finish in they same spot as the book in this season…
Pedro José Molina FernándezQuote Reply
LordStarkington,
Hmm. I’m not a Jaime fan so I did not give him this much credit in the books, but your point is well taken.
Yellow DogQuote Reply
Totally OT, but I have a questions for TPTB around here. Any way to implement a tag that allows for spoiler text to be hidden by condensing it through a spoiler button, such as I’ve seen on other websites? I’m not sure about a lot of the posters here, but I often have to view the mobile site because I’m not at home and having something like I mentioned above (or even an option at the top of the comments section to show all text) would be greatly appreciated if it’s feasible.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
We do? When has he ever churned it out quickly?
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Pastor_of_Muppets,
that thing with that feature, some smartphones will not hide the text on the spoiler… so if you rather not read the spoiler, you ended up inadvertently reading it
aceQuote Reply
Same here, the most common thing I’ve read is that this week was a nice change after the torture and turmoil of the previous week.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Maybe his conversation with Cat leading up to his release? He has some tremendous lines in there.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Pastor_of_Muppets,
If you’re using an iPhone/iPad there is a browser called iCab Mobile that has a “black & white” feature that lets you change the entire page to black text on white background… which has the effect of showing all the spoilers on the page here.
The only thing I don’t like about it is that then you can’t tell what was marked as a spoiler at all – but that isn’t a big deal (to me).
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
Duff Man,
Why are some text blocked out?
Melody HaliburtonQuote Reply
Steven Swanson,
The first three books were actually published pretty quickly – 1996, 1999, 2000. AFFC took years (2005) and of course ADWD took even more (2011). Martin mentioned quite a few times that the ‘Meereenese Knot” and trouble with timeline (i.e. using and then dropping the 5 year jump) contributed greatly to delays.
I’m not sure how much the speed will improve but now that characters are more in place, I can see room for optimism.
LordStarkingtonQuote Reply
I kept saying that thing that came out of Melisandre’s hoo-hah would move the numbers. Now I feel vindicated.
Varamyr FourskinsQuote Reply
Back to the earlier discussions of how difficult Books IV and V will be to adapt…
D&D have got their work cut out for them for sure. Right now, the show is juggling nine separate narrative strands in different locations, being:
1. Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa in King’s Landing
2. Robb’s war in the west
3. Arya in Harrenhall
4. Jon Beyond the Wall
5. Davos and Stannis
6. Catelyn and Brienne
7. Daenerys in Qarth
8. Bran in Winterfell
9. Theon’s Journey to Pyke
Some will cross over at times…but that’s way more than any other show ever can boast.
Fast forward to Feast and Dance, which will surely be combined into one timeline and you’ve got:
1. Tyrion’s journey to Merreen
2. Arya in the House of Black and White
3. Cersei Ruling in King’s Landing
4. Jaime in the Riverlands
5. Brienne Searching for Sansa
6. Sansa in the Eerie
7. Connington and Aegon returning home
8. Theon and Ramsay in Winterfell
9. Jon Ruling the Night’s Watch
10. Daenerys Ruling Mereen
11. Arrianne and Doran in Dorne
12. Kingsmoot on the Iron Islands
13. Asha Captured by Stannis
14. Samwell’s Journey to Oldtown
15. Vicctarion’s Journey to Slaver’s Bay
16. Quenton’s Journey to Mereen
17. Davos in White Harbor
18. Bran North of the Wall
Did I leave any out? Can you imagine asking an audience to keep up with eighteen narrative strands. Perhaps it can be done. But that is a lot. D&D are going to have to come up with clever ways to simplify some stuff. I’m sure they’re up to it!
VillaneQuote Reply
I hope so. Some very popular forums I frequent have every post on the episode saying how shocked they were at the drop in quality, people clock watching due to boredom.
Matt NQuote Reply
You know what I was just thinking? With the tickler dead and some believing he would replace Vargo Hoat, who has not been cast, (and really a lack of the brave companions in general begs this question) who is going to cut off Jaime’s hand? Maybe Rorge?
dmfQuote Reply
That is higher than True Blood’s and Boardwalk Empire’s 15th episode (not combined). (Only telling this because I somehow remember their numbers …)
Anyways, I live “overseas” and can confirm that where I live GoT is far more popular.
funlightQuote Reply
Agreed!
EdQuote Reply
Villane,
It’s actually worse than that, because without the POV structure of the books there are other important characters whose presence is actually increased in the series. I.e.:
- Bronn – still in KL, making trouble for Cersei, and a fan favorite.
- Gendry – I can’t imagine he’ll just turn up at the end of S5/6
- The Hound – OK, he might disappear for a bit, but still
- Osha – hiding out with Rickon somewhere
There’s also the nearer-term problem of what the hell to do with Stannis/Melisandre/Davos in s3, which is basically a waiting game until they go north. Big, big changes are coming, and I expect they’ll start sooner than we think.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
You just activated the Adam Whitehead bat signal…
I just made a change that allows one to simply click and hold on a block of spoilered text to reveal it. It works perfectly on the standard site. I don’t have a smartphone and the tablet I usually test on is at home, can anyone confirm whether it works on the mobile site? Thanks!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Heh – wow… That WILL be crazy tough. But I too have faith in them, they’ve done a wonderful job so far. Certainly the Kingsmoot can be cut completely. Just have someone mention to another character about “XXX has taken control in the Iron Islands…” and that’s that.
EdQuote Reply
Mike from Braavos,
Thanks a lot! I’ll be sure to check that out, because sometimes it’s nearly impossible to follow the discussion here with everything blacked out.
Steven Swanson,
What LordStarkington said, basically. And I do agree with him, that there is now more reason for optimism regarding timely release dates.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
Right, but he’d actually begun the first novel years before it was published, so was able to work out much of the initial story before anybody cared. You point out some of the other issues with the more recent novels that have taken him longer, but another is that he’s got a lot more demands on his time now (this show being one of them).
What the guy really needs to learn is how to say “NO”. No, I won’t go to your event/edit your anthology/write a short story for you, I have something else to do right now, thank you.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Alan,
Personally, I would like to see Dany’s Meereen storyline GREATLY condensed. I was already feeling a sense of dread last week with her scene outside the gates of Qarth.
One minor detail from Brienne’s escapades that I hope they leave in is the wandering septon’s monologue about broken men from FfC. That was some of the most evocative writing from the whole series, in my opinion.
As for the picture of the corpses hanging above the banners at Winterfell… Excellent interpretation! The tears of the non-readers will taste so sweet.
ToblakaiQuote Reply
Villane,
+ 10. the Tyrells (and Littlefinger)
HuckQuote Reply
Agree whole-heartedly. Those scenes may also be important to Kings Landing events in ADWD, depending where the story goes from there. (The Sparrows’ Rebellion)
Yellow DogQuote Reply
Awesome change. I love it! Can’t say if it works on phone/tablet right now, but I love not having to click-drag everything.
MWQuote Reply
I have seen this happen more since I don’t watch the show and rely more on the vulgar responses on various boards. I enjoy the comments very much. I don’t believe in human nature but if I did, then all GoT responses are the shapeless mass of human opinions rising from the primordial sea. In my spare time I do not watch idle fantasy only to regurgitate half formed ideas as soon as possible on the nearest board; I instead contemplate the furthest night stars and keep my findings to deserving eyes and ears of loved ones (and dear enemies).
BarthesQuote Reply
Great numbers, good to see the really disturbing Episode 4 didn’t turn off viewers.
I have a prediction for the rumor that “someone shows up at Harrenhal that recognizes Arya” in episode 6. I will go out on a limb and say it’s Nymeria.
SyrioQuote Reply
funlight,
Thats a good question. What if D&D went as far as to alter Jamie’s storyline and have him not lose his hand? I’ve heard Tyrion won’t be losing his nose at the battle of the blackwater.
Wrath of the GodsQuote Reply
The Mereen storyline won’t be condensed. Dany’s a star, the politics are good and could be played up better, and the writers and directors will flock to the parallels of an outside force occupying a nation that does not want her. I know a lot of people read it and went “Daario, Daario, Daario…” but that’s not what’s great about this segment and I have confidence that D&D, especially with a Dany who’s not 16, will make her more mature about Naharis and focus more on trying to rule a nation of people as a conqueror; as someone who is not loved by much of the local populace.
AlanQuote Reply
I predict that ratings for Episode 6 will drop a bit, maybe to 3.75 million. While Episode 5 may have been loved by some, it was definitely lacking in sex and violence and WTF moments, the stuff that audiences love to gripe about but actually want to see more of.
Carey TranQuote Reply
Syrio,
That would be sick, but I highly doubt they’ll bring Nymeria back in so early. Arya has yet to see her again in the books, even though she knows shes alive because of her wolf dreams.
In the book it’s one of her brothers bannerman who knows who she is, but that’s because she went up to him and revealed herself. Who knows who it will be in the show.
Wrath of the GodsQuote Reply
They seem to imply that it is a person who could give her away to Tywin. Could it be a Northern prisoner? Someone she met at KL? A Northern traitor?
AlanQuote Reply
I would imagine the makeup and effects to fake losing a nose would by exponentially more complicated and expensive than a hand. Heck, I have some home movies somewhere were I pretended to lose my hand, you just need a long shirt.
Also, you have to look at the face of the actor constantly. Making him as grotesque as in the book would be distracting.
That being said, I would like a simple scar or something at least, to indicate his sacrifice.
skipdutchQuote Reply
Alan,
I’m pretty sure it is going to be Littlefinger going to Harrenhal to talk to Tywin about the Joffrey and Margery marriage.
JamesLQuote Reply
You state this like its a judgement on your behalf, when in fact you read it on his blog. Attribute what what others have said so as not to distort it.
Long Ball LarryQuote Reply
I think they are bringing her back for a cameo, talks in Harrenhal of a large wolfpack roaming the Riverlands. And Arya maybe getting a glimpse of the pack leader from the walls and Nymeria looks at her for a second before howling and scampering into the woods.
I’d love to see it.
SyrioQuote Reply
GOT Episode 7 (May 13) will compete against Desperate Housewives Finale.
elayQuote Reply
skipdutch,
Yeah I actually hope they deviate from the book and don’t let Jaime loose his arm. Maybe just have them break it or something so it can heal back. I wouldn’t mind that at all.
ArthurQuote Reply
You should offer your consulting services to GoT! Sounds like your home grown special effects are second to none!
:)
KingthlayerQuote Reply
Wrath of the Gods,
Why on earth would you want him to not lose his hand? Half the fun of Jaime’s character development comes out of that event!
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Syrio,
Omg! I never thought of that!
If D&D have Nymeria pay a visit to Arya that would be the most badass TV adaptation divergence to date. IMHO.
Thanks a lot people, now Sunday can’t come fast enough. And if you are wrong about that, I hate you forever for building my hopes up!
ArthurQuote Reply
My fiancee believes they have already been alluding to this a bit by the way the camera was coming up on Arya after the left Kings Landing but before Harrenhall. I didn’t notice it as much but there may be something to it (it was reminiscent of the warg dream that Bran had – just very subtle) Very cool if they intended it that way.
KingthlayerQuote Reply
I think Arya will bump into Littlefinger, who is bringing the offer of an alliance with the Tyrells to Tywin.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
What if GoT catches up to the material and then goes into Naruto/Bleach filler territory? That’s a greater terror than what crawled outta Mel’s hoo haw!
Addam RiversQuote Reply
Kingthlayer,
I don’t want to build my hopes up to much about the Nymeria thing…
But that would be f***ing awesome!
ArthurQuote Reply
I agree that a hand is easier to do than a nose. More importantly, Jaime losing his hand is MUCH more important to his narrative arc than Tyrion losing his nose is to his. If Jaime doesn’t lose his hand, that would almost be akin to Bran not getting crippled. It would just completely change the character. For that reason, I would be shocked if it doesn’t happen.
JohnQuote Reply
agreed – it will need to come up fairly soon: isn’t it quite early in ASoS that Arya escapes Harrenhall and she wargs into Nymeria and kills the persuing guards to aid in their escape? They should start getting folks prepared for both John and Arya’s warging if you ask me! John wargs into Ghost VERY shortly to get a view of some giants and he gets attacked by the wildling warg. That’s in CoK right?
KingthlayerQuote Reply
elay,
So what? lol, I don’t think Desperate Housewives and Game of Thrones have that much of a crossover audience and besides it’s not 2004 anymore, Desperate Housewives is not that much of a ratings grabber.
JamesLQuote Reply
Kingthlayer,
Arya never actively wargs, she just hears things in the woods while on her travels and yes she does have Bran-like dreams. And yes Nymeria seems to act as Arya’s guardian angel, killing people and hunting the people who are hunting Arya. That is why this would be so awesome! Nymeria is a tiny part of Arya’s storyline but Nymeria does still play an important role. I hope Nymeria is the one that pays her a visit.
ArthurQuote Reply
Arthur,
she wargs into a cat in Braavos
SeVvQuote Reply
Arthur,
I think she does have the dreams by the way – from the wiki of ice and fire: Arya Stark, Whilst traveling, Arya experienced dreams of her direwolf, Nymeria, leading a wolfpack and attacking some humans. This corresponds to events in the area where Nymeria is believed to be, with the wolves becoming larger and more bold. She also entered the minds of cats when she was in Braavos.
I remember her tasting the blood – that stuck out to me
Makes no difference but I am psyched for Nymeria!
KingthlayerQuote Reply
Alan,
The one plot that you have on the possible cuts that I think is impossible is Sansa in the Eyrie. She’s just way too important of a character to cut her for a season or two. And the story is pretty short to begin with, so I can’t imagine shortening it. If anything, it might be expanded. The same can be said for Arya’s story (she’s the best character in the series, but she has less than half as many chapters in AFFC/ADWD as Cersei–the least likable character in the series, at least in the books)
JohnQuote Reply
John,
Yeah I remember you are totally correct. I just don’t think she actively does it on the same level that Bran eventually does.
Noone is warging yet. Bran is just starting to realize there is something more about his dreams.
I was just responding as if “warging” was an active skill used by a skinchanger. In that sense of the word we haven’t seen that yet on the TV series and Arya never does.
But yes she does have the dreams like Bran is having…
ArthurQuote Reply
I think this will cross 4 million within the 2 weeks or so. My personal target for the finale is 4.5 million. It would be awesome if we could cross 5 million. True Blood crossed the 5 million in Season 2 [S02E10]; no reason why Game of Thrones can’t either.
oracle86Quote Reply
Wait, which part? I actually don’t read his blog all that often anymore, haven’t regularly since Dance came out, so not sure which part of my post you’re referring to.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Ha! Record numbers! So funny, considering all the talk of “jumping the shark” and viewers being turned off by the shadow baby.
LexQuote Reply
Oh hell no, that would destroy his whole character arc, wherein he loses that which gave him the freedom to be as much of an asshole as he wanted and has to learn a little human empathy and humility.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
All this without NCW?! This is like a sports team on a winning streak without their star player (or a star player — Dinklage did get the Emmy).
When is Jaime back in the lineup? Put him in, coach!
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I’m assuming he’s referring to your “He needs to learn to say ‘NO’”.
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
I thought Arya did warg into the cat on purpose so she could see when the dude was hitting her and pass the test. I agree that she does not actively warg with Nymeria, like Bran doesn’t with Summer at this point in the story. I would agree that warging is probably what it’s called when you do it on purpose
KingthlayerQuote Reply
Carey Tran,
America is also “full of”: GRRM, David and Dan, Peter Dinklage, Jason Momoa, HBO… shall I continue? I am not American but please stop with these generalizations and this hate.
UdiQuote Reply
Kingthlayer,
Yeah good point about Arya and the cat. I think she did it more by accident though.
Either way…
I doubt we will see Nymeria. How is she going to get into the castle undetected? Maybe Arya has to fetch something outside? Well it seems almost to good to be true and we all know that what is to good to be true, usally doesn’t happen. It would be a really cool way to show the TV viewer Nymeria is still a part of Arya though.
ArthurQuote Reply
Aside from Bran, Arya seemed to have the second highest warging capability or at least it seemed like that from the books. I expect her to be able to warg into many beasts, but her stand out warging in the books was with Nymeria. Her connection to her direwolf is STRONG if she can access Nymeria’s mind from miles away. Some of my favorite parts were when she “dreamed” of Nymeria and experienced the wolf pack activity.
I don’t know if Jaime has to lose his hand completely, but I would say that he needs to lose enough function of the hand where it takes him down a notch and he has to learn to be a lefty. They shouldn’t shave his head either. They can just muck him up so he’s not so pretty.
Anyway, if we can save on “hand” CGI and actor discomfort, that’s alright by me. The shock factor of chopping off the hand was unbelievable in the book, but a good hand hammering can also have that impact on tv. I think hand smashing/stabbings are seriously intense and I hate to see them on any show. Sooo cringeworthy!
MimsyQuote Reply
That’s hilarious, and no, I hadn’t seen that. Basically he’s admitting to what his fans have been telling him for years, so for the above poster to assume I’d stolen the idea from his blog is pretty lame (although we did express it very similarly, even if GRRM went on a good bit longer).
And I just glanced at more recent posts on his blog involving book tours and interviews, so looks like he’s already forgotten his own advice. Although I don’t begrudge him his football, a man’s gotta have his fun.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
I can begrudge him for being a Jets fan!
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
Paul,
It’s not cut. It’s been pretty conclusively shown in a trailer, although not in a way that would mean anything to anyone who didn’t know what was coming.
MACQuote Reply
On an iPod touch. No joy on the spoiler blocks. Still can’t make the black go away to read what’s underneath.
FicusFanQuote Reply
I don’t think that one would be cut, but there’s simply not a lot of plot there. It could be squeezed in or shortened. Or as you say, I suppose they could lengthen.
But lengthening either of the characters you mention would likely involve creating plot points that aren’t in the novel. Like an extra intrigue or in the latter case, another “mission.”
D&D have really avoided this in most cases — Jon at Craster’s this year and Dany at the Gates being the exceptions. It’s not impossible that they’d do this, but it doesn’t seem to be their preference, you know?
As for Cersei, that plot line is incredible. You don’t need to like her; the sheer number of fantastic scenes, potential for great acting from Lena Headey and the schadenfreude of watching Cersei fall apart means it’s going to be a strong part of the season. There’s not way D&D are cutting Jaime meeting Cersei in the Sept or Cersei walking naked through the streets of King’s Landing. That’s Emmy-winning stuff.
AlanQuote Reply
What I find most noteworthy, actually, is the number of people NOT watching. I mean look at that list: if you put the NBA aside (although telling in itself), Mad Men and GoT are clearly the 2 beacons of quality television in a swamp of “Khloe and Lamar”, “Pawn Stars”, “Storage Wars” and “Swamp People” not to mention the 54th Law&Order iteration.
Yet all of these are contained within 1 and 4 million viewers, in no particular order (well OK, GoT is at the top).
In total, over 180M people watched cable TV that night, which in itself is huge as it’s about half the population and doesn’t seem to account for network TV. Yet only 5-10% of them watched something I deem worth watching. Personal taste, of course.
Restore The DayQuote Reply
Steven Swanson,
the part about needing to say no, he stated that practically verbatim on there, probably several times over the last few years
Long Ball LarryQuote Reply
About Nymeria being Arya’s surprise visitor. A few reviewers who have seen an advance copy have said that it is a person that she bumps into. My money is on Littlefinger.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
Tyrion Pimpslap,
Where did you read this?
ArthurQuote Reply
YES! True Blood better be ready to get knocked off It’s pedestal down to where it belongs!
John-Michael LelievreQuote Reply
Same on an iPad.
morbiczerQuote Reply
Moving back to how they are going to handle the Bran and Rickon “deaths”, I was thinking if this episode ended with Winterfell being taken, that would be a thrilling, crazy ending.
Then the next episode (episode 7) could begin with “Bran and Rickon” being burned with news quickly traveling to Catelyn. This sets up her epic scene with Jamie to go along with all of the other plots that are plowing forward. The episode could end with a good bit of news that Bran and Rickon are actually alive, as we see them and Osha leaving the crypts.
I think that makes the episode really impactful and the misdirection with Bran and Rickon’s “death” does not feel like a cheat. It merely sets up Catelyn freeing Jamie in one desperate attempt to get back her daughters and gives the kind of awesome ending Game of Thrones loves to finish with.
Mark RainesQuote Reply
Well no shit, probably because his fans have been stating the same thing practically verbatim for years. I in no way claimed my opinion was original or revolutionary, and for you to get hung up because you think I mispresented the way he laid it out on his blog is stupid and presumptuous.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Arthur,
http://http://www.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/game_of_thrones_scoop_get_ready/312626?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories
I found this while scrolling through imdb’s news section.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
Mark Raines,
Jaime has a failed escape attempt before cat frees him. I think we will see this during episode 7, with him being a badass swordsman. I think Bran and Rickon’s death will be used as a TV cliffhanger. We won’t see Jaime freed by Cat until probably episode 10, and that will be Jaime/Brienne’s cliffhanger to season 3.
That would be my guesses…
ArthurQuote Reply
Tyrion Pimpslap,
Yup… I knew the Nymeria thing wasn’t going to happen. That would have been to cool. =[
ArthurQuote Reply
It’s a long way from 3.9 up to True bloods 5.3. I don’t think GoT will ever reach those heights. Not that I think it needs to.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Alan,
For Sansa I think it would be simple to just push back her arrival in the Eyrie relative to the rest of the books events, into the events from Feast/Dance. Then she wouldn’t need much filller.
And to whoever said they should cut the Kingsmoot, SEVEN HELLS NO! That was one of the best scenes in Feast, and practicly the only time we see Euron.
sunspearQuote Reply
Arthur,
You may be right. I just feel like they don’t want Jamie to sit on the sideline all season. It will be interesting to see how they handle it. I could see it going a number of different ways, all of them interesting.
Mark RainesQuote Reply
It’s possible TB will drop this season to make GOT’s job much easier. The promos and teasers are absolutely terrible.
DH87Quote Reply
sjwenings,
True bloods main strength is that the plot isn’t so convoluted that people can watch it casually, at least in my opinion. I watch it on occasion, but I couldn’t tell you half of whats happened on the show or what is currently going on. I think GOT will start to lose this weakness as time goes on and people can watch reruns, dvds, or read the books.
sunspearQuote Reply
I’m afraid there is: GOT has no Alex Skarsgard and its one suitable substitute, Jason Momoa, is riding with the stallions in the sky.
DH87Quote Reply
Re: a couple of proposed changes
1. Jaime losing his hand is really important to his development as a character, so unless it was a huge drain on the budget I think it’s one of the details that has to stay
2. Greyjoys and their kingsmoot is a great way to segue their story into the later stages of the overall narrative and if done right would be a great scene (possibly even a great way to end an episode). It’d be a real shame to lose it
3. Sansa will likely be like Jaime this season unless they greatly change things, I think. Basically, pop in to check on her, Lords Declarant, and probably close her storyline in whatever season that will be with LF revealing his plans. Hard to say more until we see what developments occur in TWOW.
LordStarkingtonQuote Reply
I hope GoT overtakes TB on the ratings just like any of us hopes. That having been said, and, I hate to burst anyone bubble on our dream that GoT outdoes TB (enough disclaimers?) but TB won’t stay buried. ;-) They’ve got Denis O’Hare coming back as Russell Edgington this season. I would kill to have Mr. O’Hare on the set of GoT. For a sample of his talent look here.
That having been said, I think it’s good that HBO can only compete with itself. I remember last year we were talking about this show called Camelot on Starz. Camelot, what’s that? Also, does anyone realize that the Borgias is in season now? I didn’t think so. HBO rules!
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I’m not saying it’s not a good plot line. It is. But Martin wrote way too many chapters on it. He used 10 chapters (in a 45-chapter book) on Cersei, and he really could have accomplished as much in half the space. Obviously, her fall from grace is great. I just wish that we didn’t have like eight chapters where she just delusionally congratulates herself on what a “great” leader she is. I think that’s an area that Benioff and Weiss can make some cuts (not the big moments that you mention, but a lot of the filler in between), and I think they will.
And yeah, expanding Arya and/or Sansa would be challenging, but the whole AFFC/ADWD thing is going to be the biggest challenge anyway. Benioff and Weiss haven’t added too much yet, but they haven’t had to because the source material is so strong. The fourth and fifth books (especially AFFC) are much weaker than the first three books, and they have to be combined. I think there’s plenty of room to expand on Arya’s scenes in particular. She’s the best character in the series AND she’s played by the best actress. I just can’t imagine that the writers are going to spend two seasons with her not getting much screen time.
JohnQuote Reply
GOT may never reach TB’s premier numbers, but it could certainly still beat it in total viewers. And I’m not positive that GOT hasn’t already surpassed TB in total viewers worldwide. I’ll settle for GOT getting really good ratings and getting nominated and winning awards. We all know TB won’t be receiving the same type of critical/award show praise.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
Tyrion Pimpslap,
Wait…who is this person who knows Arya that arrives in Harrenhal?
DogmayorQuote Reply
Dogmayor,
Most likely Littlefinger going to Harrenhal to talk with Tywin thats what makes the most sense, I can’t think of anyone else it would be.
JamesLQuote Reply
I highly doubt we are going to see Jaime’s failed escape attempt. Sunday we see Catelyn back in Riverrun. If she sees Jaime wreck havoc with his sword while still in chains she would never release him
TurncloakQuote Reply
JamesL,
Perhaps but I would wager to guess that whoever it is will become her second kill request from Jaqen, which would make sense seeing as how that person could pose an immediate threat by blowing her cover. So if that’s the case I doubt it’s Littlefinger, but who knows.
DogmayorQuote Reply
Mark Raines,
My guess is that they’ll have Bran & Rickon killed off at the end of episode 7 (The Prince of Winterfell). Cat will get the news in episode 8. Episode 9 will be focused on the Battle on the Blackwater, and then we’ll see Bran & Rickon alive in ‘Valar Morghulis’ – similar to how Bran living closed out A Clash of Kings. Not sure how they’ll handle Ser Rodrik and his attack on Theon and then the surprise attack by Reek/Ramsay Snow.
NewJeffCTQuote Reply
Mike Chair,
He would have made an excellent Roose Bolton. Alas.
CanaryQuote Reply
JamesL,
They can’t have it be Littlefinger. That would completely spoil the Battle of the Blackwater ending. As it is now, they have just the right amount of foreshadowing.
sunspearQuote Reply
JamesL (about the first message):
Dude, sorry but you really are not so good at using those spoiler-markers. People can still get spoiled from your message :S
rearaQuote Reply
Winter – this link describes a way of altering CSS for touch devices. It uses JQuery, but could probably be done in straight up JavaScript if you’re not already using JQuery here.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2851663/how-do-i-simulate-a-hover-with-a-touch-in-touch-enabled-browsers
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
Meeeeerrrrrraaaa…?
ArthurQuote Reply
Who could come to Harrenhal to blow Arya’s Cover? My guess would be Ser Meryn or a Frey
JonSnowQuote Reply
I dont think it would spoil the ending. This might be the Scene Charles Dance was talking about in his Thronecast interview. Arya getting ready to kill Tywin but we find out hes talking to Littlefinger
JonSnowQuote Reply
Pastor_of_Muppets,
i loved ADWD……especially on the second reading (combined with AFFC in chrono order)
seriously under rated….even though i would’ve loved a more tightly wrapped ending…..
carlQuote Reply
It says “someone”, doesn’t mean it has to be a person. A direwolf is “someone”.
SyrioQuote Reply
I read it that way the first time (alternating chapters with Feast, took some serious discipline), and have no intention of reading it on its own, GRRM and his publisher really screwed the pooch by splitting those books up the way they did. I think they work MUCH better together.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
But they imply that that someone can reveal her identity, which doesn’t fit Nymeria.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
I love how Arya’s training is a necessary plotline, but Sam and the Maesters, Dorne, the Greyjoys, and Sansa and Littlefinger are not. In my opinion, more happens with the Greyjoys and Dorne, than with Arya and her training in AFFC and ADWD (I would even argue that her one chapter in ADWD was merely fanservice, and quite unnecessary . It was a waste of ink and paper. We already knew that Arya was training to be some sort of ninja/assassin person. Also, Littlefinger is quite the important character. (no matter what the tv series may believe)
ElenQuote Reply
Elen,
you dont SOUND like you LOVE it!
:)
kingthlayerQuote Reply
Why not, you don’t think the Lannister men, and Tywin especially, would get suspicious of Arya’s identity if a giant wolf is extremely friendly to her?
SyrioQuote Reply
In this video about filming in Belfast if you go to the 1 minute mark there is a scene of Jaime being dragged along and pummeled by what are clearly Stark retainers (I saw a direwolf banner in the earlier part of the scene.) I can’t think of anything this could possibly be other than the aftermath of his failed escape attempt, and it would seem bizarre to me if they didn’t show it when it’s the one in-book thing that would let them give Jaime more screentime. So I think the escape attempt is definitely happening in Episode 6.
I can’t quite tell if Michelle Fairley is in that same scene or not, so I think Cat and Brienne are either there or arrive just after Jaime is recaptured. Furthermore, in the trailer about “so many vows” it looks like Jaime is wearing even more chains than he did in the scene with Robb, which would make sense if he’d just tried to escape.
From interviews with Michelle Fairley and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, I am betting that the release of Jaime happens in Episode 7 (Michelle specifically mentioned a scene with Jaime in that episode in the context of Catelyn doing something she thought was right but that no one else agreed with.) So I bet the release happens in Episode 7 after Catelyn hears of Bran and Rickon’s deaths, and then Brienne and Jaime do their early travels in the Riverlands in Episode 8, episode 9 is all Blackwater all the time, and Jaime’s season 2 arc ends in Episode 10 with his hand being cut off – either they show that or else they leave us in suspense about whether it’s his hand or his head.
Man, the way I have been analyzing previews and trailers and interviews, I feel like the Kremlinologists who used to look at the order in which the Politburo members lined up for the Soviet May Day parades to tell what kind of power struggles were going on in the Kremlin. Maybe I’m a Jaime-ologist.
GonfaloniereQuote Reply
Arthur,
actually, u r wrong…bran, just doesnt dream ,he warg himself activly also…once he warg himself in hodor and all the way to north he activly warg into summer… And arya wargs into cat
The waifQuote Reply
Arya and the rest of the Starks are main characters of the books, and so their stories (along with Tyrion’s and Dany’s) aren’t getting chopped. Neither is Sansa’s — there’s just not a lot of actual plot there so they’d need to add. Her story is character development, and not ‘fan service.’ I find Victarion’s story to be boring with a boring lead character, but I’m not going to denigrate the intelligence/maturity of people who enjoy it.
Sam’s in the next crew down of characters, so I doubt he gets cut, but if the Maester’s plotline ends up not being essential, they may just keep him with Jon. Either way, spending an entire season on a boat is pretty unnecessary. Yes, there’s some character development, but since Sam is a step down from Arya, he’s more likely to lose it.
I can keep going, but the point is simple: if Books 4 and 5 span two seasons, there’s more than enough room for everything. If it’s one, some of these simply have to go.
I actually suspect HBO would prefer 2 seasons. The showrunners might not; the actors may or may not, but if HBO is making money… they will want more seasons. I think if D&D value the whole story, we’ll see two, but smashed more into chronological order.
Of course, the problem will be the same Martin had. The width of the story means you can put all your characters into both seasons, but it makes it tough for Book 4 to end on any kind of climatic note (as everyone is halfway through their story). If you split the characters, people disappear for ages.
AlanQuote Reply
Oh, I suppose they might. Though how she or the wolf are going to get into a position where they can interact, either by her being outside the walls or Nymeria inside, is beyond me. And that they would have an audience of Lannisters hanging around, that’d be a little odd too.
My money’s on Littlefinger, if it has to be somebody we’ve seen before. But I think it’s just as likely it’s some random northerner who knows her, it doesn’t even have to be all that different from how it occurs in the books (which leads to weasel soup), just somebody who knows her a little better than whichever northerners were captured in the original version.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
I think Arya’s chapters in ADWD were more leftovers from Feast than just fanservice, and concurrent with the events they appeared with at the end of Dance, and so appropriate (just another casualty of splitting those two books the way they did). As to whether or not they’re important, well, I think we won’t know till the fat man sings, but I do agree with you that the other scenes you mention are integral to the larger storyline, and shouldn’t be cut out, because there isn’t actually much of them. I think skipping characters or storylines for a few episodes isn’t a problem, especially for people who’ve stuck with it to that point.
Steven SwansonQuote Reply
Gonfaloniere,
I don’t see Jaime’s story getting that far this season. I think Jaime has a large role in episode 7 that will include his escape attempt and his conversation with Cat. Which will lead to her releasing him at the end of the episode. I think his arc this season will end with Brienne and him narrowly escaping the Northmen trying to recapture him.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
Tyrion Pimpslap,
First of all, your username cracks me up :D Perhaps you are right, but if they really want to use NCW this season (and they are paying him and specifically mentioned a bigger role for Jaime and Robb than they have in the book!) then I would think they would end on a cliffhanger rather than on a fairly anti-climactic scene where Jaime thinks about shoving Brienne back into the river and doesn’t. (NCW mentioned canoeing, so I’m SURE that they will show some of that escape.) I don’t know, I like the idea of season 3 starting with handless Jaime :D (I do think there’s not that much going on in that part of the Jaime & Brienne roadtrip besides a lot of flashbacks to Jaime’s life with Aerys Targaryen and why he joined the Kingsguard, which they will certainly not show. So … yeah, you may be right.
Wishful thinking on my part, perhaps! I have missed Jaime in the previous four episodes (and given all the publicity stuff NCW did before this season started, I’d expected him to have more than one scene in the first five episodes!)
GonfaloniereQuote Reply
I didn’t think anyone had to actually recognize her (although that’s what it sounds like ya’ll are referring to). All that really needs to happen is for someone to finally inform Tywin that little Arya escaped Kings Landing. Having just discovered his little, 10 yr.old cupbearer was a girl disguised as a boy and from the North, Tywin will immediately suspect “Arry” after they tell him about the escape. I’m thinking that’s why the writers had him see through her disguise so quickly.
PatDQuote Reply
Syrio,
“It says “someone”, doesn’t mean it has to be a person. A direwolf is “someone”.”
No, someone is a person. I’ve never heard anyone refer to an animal as “someone”.
JamesLQuote Reply
Gonfaloniere,
I think Jaime is the best character in the series. So I would love it if they added more scenes for him. I just think with them splitting ASOS into more than one season that it would be skipping too far ahead if they cut his hand off this season.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
In fantasy setting involving magical creatures, it happens all the time.
SyrioQuote Reply
James Brookes,
Nothing happens in either book, so it’ll be quite easy. I can’t imagine them as two separate seasons really, without the seasons being ridiculously boring. But then again, if they rush through the book adaptions they’ll catch up with old George way too fast. What to do.. :/
StanQuote Reply
Mike from Braavos,
Episode #16: “The Old Gods and the New”
Theon (Alfie Allen) completes his master stroke. In King’s Landing, the Lannisters send Myrcella (Aimee Richardson) from harm’s way in the nick of time. Arya (Maisie Williams) comes face to face with a surprise visitor; Dany (Emilia Clarke) vows to take what is hers; Robb (Richard Madden) and Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) receive crucial news; Qhorin (Simon Armstrong) gives Jon (Kit Harington) a chance to prove himself.
Episode #17: “A Man Without Honor”
Jaime (Nicolaj Coster-Waldau) meets a distant relative;Dany receives an invitation to the House of the Undying; Theon leads a search party; Jon loses his way in the wilderness; Cersei (Lena Headey) counsels Sansa (Sophie Turner).
1. He takes Winterfell
2. Cat and Robb receive the news and think they are dead
3. Theon leads a search party
And if he looks for the stark children, the viewer KNOWS they aren’t death!
Matthias HinkelmannQuote Reply
Theon’s search party is what LEADS to the fake deaths. He never looks for them AFTER he kills the miller boys. They escape, he searches for them, can’t find them, so he takes the miller boys back so as to not lose face. So the search party would immediately precede their fake deaths – at least if they’re even remotely following the book there – which they may not be.
Mike from BraavosQuote Reply
Mike from Braavos,
You are right. But if the audiance sees that he is finding the miller boys than they know he didn’t get the right kids… OR they just show the search without showing the boys and just show the dead children at the end.
hinkaQuote Reply
It will probably be just like in the book - Theon will say that he knows where they are and then it shows him entering a home and searching and then flash forward to the bodies. The attentive viewer will suspect it’s the miller’s orphans but many won’t think of it I would think.
KingthlayerQuote Reply
I’m pretty sure that Dagmer will be the one to push Theon to kill the miller’s boys, based on how everything between the two went down last episode.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
Matthias Hinkelmann,
The synopsis is evidence against Jaime being released int he 7th episode. The crucial news in episode 6 is that Theon has taken Winterfell. You say they would think Bran and Rickon are dead at this point, which makes no sense whatsoever. Theon kills the miller boys in episode 7, so the earliest Jaime would be released is episode 8. But I’m still convinced that he will not be released until episode 10, because with ASOS being split into 2 seasons, they are going to need as much plot as possible to fill the next 2 seasons.
DogmayorQuote Reply
I don’t know. It depends on if they’ll play it as a cliffhanger to shock viewers, or if they give us the reveal before the episode is over.
Personally, the way I’ve always imagined it in my head is something like: Cat and Robb get news and she asks about her kids — cut away to Winterfell, camera pans up the ramparts to heads on spikes, lingers, and then cut to Bran, Rickon, Osha, and Hodor escaping through the woods with a matte painting of Winterfell behind them, ending on a moment of hope.
SuzakuQuote Reply