Adken

Am I the only one who gets confused on all the fringe characters? Like, I have literally no idea who the Blackfish are, and why they're worth sending Jaime after.

With Anya, the whole point of the story seems to have been for us to root for Anya vs the other assassin chick. My preditction is, Anya will spare the other chick, and the main assassin guy will say something like "A girl has learned well, but is released."

MrX

I have a hard time buying that theory just because his love of fire and burning people to death was well known before that.

MrX

http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Brynden_Tully

DthRdrX

Then what was the point of showing him at this point in the story?

Decker

I recommend watching After The Thrones on HBO Go. They bring in guests every week to help non-book readers with backstory stuff. They have a weekly "Who the Fuck Was That" segment to highlight a character who appeared in the episode that you may have forgotten. I assume this week it will be Edmure Tully who we haven't seen since his bedding ceremony at the Red Wedding, but it could be Benjen I suppose.

MrX

Could be because it's a scene people would recognize since Jamie has told that story before.

The Infidel

I have a feeling Arya's dwindling and seemingly uninteresting story is going to come out of left field and play a bigger part in the whole scheme of things than we're guessing. I haven't read the books so I could be totally wrong, but I can't imagine them taking us on a boring journey with her to not give us some kind of payoff that connects her with everyone else's stories somehow. I mean, the basis of this series is the Stark family being torn apart, so I assume something has to get them back together eventually. EDIT: At least, those of them that are still alive.

mwbmis

We're beyond the books now. The only thing they haven't shown us is her dreams of running wild in the Riverlands. Since the wolves have been dwindling this year, it's time for the Arya/Nymeria reunion.

I have not at all missed the Ramsey Bolton torture hour the last two weeks.

mwbmis

My bet is Benjen. They at least set up the Freys and the Tullys in the previously on segment. Benjen was supposed to be a surprise.

The other name that got dropped in the Frey sequence was the Brothers w/o Banners. Wonder if we'll see them again this year. The pieces are certainly aligning. I wonder who's in the group now.

Josh-da-man

Yes, Martin has said that Coldhands isn't Benjen Stark, even in his story notes to his editors.

I'd say it's probably more likely that they've just given Benjen the Coldhands role in the story the same way they combined Gendry and Edric Storm's arcs and had Sansa marry Ramsay Bolton instead of "Arya."

JTH182

My guess is that Arya actually beats the fuck out of that chick that's been beating her ass over and over, and kills her with Needle. After that, her training is complete.

At least that's just what I'm hoping happens, lol

slop101

Yeah, and that her discernment in not killing that actress was just part of her training.

Dr. DVD

I too was pretty skeptical about Margery's "born again" bit. Wondering if she and Cersei form some unlikely alliance and Tommen sending Jaime on his book storyline is part of a way to keep him from being targeted by the Faith Militant.

Also a bit curious how Yara and Theon's story will play . The clip for next week seems to hint they want to re-take the Iron Islands, but it looked like they were at some port en route to Mereen. Will Yara supply the ships for Daenarys or will Euron?

Osiris3657

We haven't seen her once using a different face, which is the most important part of her training. She even asks Jaqen if she can use a face to assassinate the actress, but Jaqen says she's not ready.

So again, seems kind of pointless for her to run off at this point.

creekdipper

Jeremy & slop captured my thoughts. I'll be glad to see Arya be Arya again & leave all this "A Girl" nonsense behind.

I was afraid they'd cop out & have the young actress (or Richard Grant) drink from the cup, and have that be the actual intended victim (i.e., the test was to see if Arya would actually follow through with orders w/out taking an innocent life...although, as it was explained, all must die eventually). I did wonder if Arya thought about smashing all the spare cups in case somebody else decided to swig some of the remaining rum.

I hope that being trained in the art of deception to use in her own cause while still remaining true to her principles (as opposed to simply serving the Faceless God regardless of moral conflict) will be important to Arya's development. And that she will not be granted a reprieve & is still slated to potentially become another brick...er, face...in the wall. That will return our beloved character to her former hunted-and-always-in-danger status but now as a wiser, more skilled warrior.

I felt the opposite way. This is the first one that actually has my appetite whetted for the next installment in a while.

Last one was pretty good, too.

A lot of puzzle pieces lining up with potential combinations of converging characters & storylines getting ready for the big push to the finish).

Are there going to be 10 episodes this season (only 4 left)? What about the rumor that the final season will be less than ten, or will be divided into two half-seasons comprising about sixteen episodes?

Decker

Yeah 10 episodes this season and probably some combo of 7 & 8 for the next two final seasons. I'm sure HBO would like 20 more but W&B have earned the creative control they now weild and should be able to get exactly what they want.

Kevin M. Dean

She used a face without permission last season when she killed what's-his-name from her list. She was then blinded for punishment.

johnnysd

Suspect you will be disappointed. I see almost no way that Arya DOES NOT become a faceless one. Everything is a test, and I find it super hard to think Arya will fail in that test in the end. Seems like the show is setting up to be one of the climactic scenes.

B.A.

Thanks.

DthRdrX

The remaining episode titles: Nine and Ten sound like they will be epic.

Dr. DVD

I wonder if

Osiris3657

Why are you wondering? It's obvious that it's referring to them.

Osiris3657

You're right, I didn't remember that she had used a face for this scene.

Raul3

Yep.

Also, the previous to the last episode of the season is always epic.

Maz Kanata

The last three are still not official. Frankly they sound like titles some fan would lazily come up with.