Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

GRRM, are you listening?

Very telling that the show producers are not only jettisoning entire storylines in order to pack two books into one season...they still have room to create entirely new storylines/characters. Not saying that the books aren't enjoyable in an epic tale...although Martin better have a masterful ending for the readers who slogged through 4 & 5 if they're supposed to be setting up a spectacular, satisfying finale rather than being evidence of writer's block/ego scuttling the saga. But, as others have pointed out along with the showrunners, written work & TV are different animals.

I still miss Strong Belwas, though. Mereen could use some comic relief.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I'm not sure that the Starks have gotten into trouble about honoring their vows ... they've gotten into trouble by mostly honoring them, breaking them for something they see as "just", then continuing on and acting as if they still had moral superiority (and that everyone else should never break their own vows).

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I really liked this episode. Visited almost all the key players and felt a lot of forward momentum.

Two quick questions
1) Couldn't Jon Snow take the Stark name and still remain on the Black Watch even if he couldn't actually be Lord of Winterfell?

2) Who was the fourth name on Arya's now disappointingly short To Kill list?

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

1. No, the deal from Stannis was for Jon to go back to the North in order to get the Northerners to rally behind Stannis.

2. Cersei, The Mountain, Walder Frey, Trant

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Yeah, she must be giving Ilyn Payne a pass since the actor who played him got cancer.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Could be. According to Yahoo TV, the actor recently underwent successful surgery and he is cancer free though still recovering.

Yahoo TV link

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

GRRM's inspiration for the Titan of Braavos was the real statue called the Colossus of Rhodes and which was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Although the real ancient statue probably stood only on one side of the entrance of the harbor at Rhodes, it was romanticized as straddling the harbor after it was long gone and had past into legend.

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...psuizfuhhv.jpg

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I like the fact that the Flayed Man not the Dire Wolf now marks Winterfell in the opening but was mildly disappointed to see the Harpy still on top of the pyramid in Mereen.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

She doesn't. That was one of the big complaints about Book 4, is that Brienne's chapters are just a wild goose chase. She never comes close to finding her (she spends most of her time around the Riverlands).

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

A man is pleased that Jaqen is back. I always thought he'd be perfect to be her teacher at the House of Black & White. Looks like I got my wish via the show instead of the books.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Probably didn't want to reveal too much in front of little finger.

(or just completely slipped her mind like not showing arya the wolf bread last season :D)

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I always thought the wolf bread thing was a silly complaint.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I would think that showing TV show Sansa that Pod was with her might have been a good thing too.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

well the ladies do like their Pod

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I have one more more detailed question that I don't know can be answered without book spoilers, but will try :
At the end of last season my wife (and many people who were familiar with the books) were surpised that a big thing that should have happened at the end of last season did not actually happen on the show. I know EW had a big front page of their website story about it. I've been very careful to avoid book spoilers, so without giving away book spoilers, is that big event or twist or whatever it was still in play where it could happen this season or has our story progressed to the point where we know whatever that event was, it could no longer happen in the TV show? If we're past the point where that event isn't in play any more, can someone tell me what it was in [spoilers]?

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

It is still possible. To be as vague as possible, there was an unsubstantiated rumor that it could happen this season.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Are you talking about ?

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

As mentioned below, it could still happen. It depends really on if that thing is critical to the future story past where the books are right now. If it is, perhaps they are just delaying introduction to avoid fluff/cost etc, and just bring it in later when it might be needed.

I'd say if we get halfway or so through the season without it, it becomes much less likely it will appear in the future. Just too much time will have passed for it to make sense.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Thank you for the answers!

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I think it is 100% confirmed that it is (thankfully) completely cut. Will not be in this year at a minimum

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

I read in an interview with D & D that they wrote Payne out of the show out of respect for the actor playing him. :shrug: Good to hear that the actor is in remission. Hopefully, he will remain cancer-free (unlike Andy Whitfield, the original Spartacus on Showtime).

Interesting...perhaps the endgame is for Sansa to end up on the Iron Throne with Podrick as the royal consort.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Yeah, read an article last year where the show creators said flat out that the character will not be in the show. I remember people bitching about that being a spoiler, and having to laugh at them as to how the absence of something can be a spoiler, not to mention something the show runners have gone on record to address. Anyhoo, as of now, there are no plans on the show for that thing Decker was asking about.

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Also, the actress has said she has no plans of

Why am I spoilering something that won't even happen?

Re: Game of Thrones (S5E02) -- "The House of Black and White" -- 4/19/15
 

Oh my gaw! You said "actress", knowing the gender just totally ruin everything and spoils my enjoyment of the show!!!