You're right about him taking an alternate route and picking up some random northern clans. I can't remember anything about the Karstarks that you posted. Are you saying they are betraying Bolton in the book?

By the way...the show seems to be giving a middle finger to the whole "the North remembers" philosophy. No one wants to support Jon/Sansa, Umbers handing over Rickon, etc. It's going to feel out of left field if the full northern support happens, rather than a build up for the audience to finally go "hell yes, b.tch!"

Does anyone else feel like it's strange how Varys arrives immediately after Dany leaves and then leaves immediately before she returns? I get that it could just be coincidence but it almost feel as if they didn't know how to write that interaction (at this time, at least) seeing as Varys isn't even over there in the books.

This coincidence just seems odd to me. Wondering if anyone has any explanation or anything? I feel like he would have liked to see her since him and Illyrio helped her get where she is. But on that same note, he also spied on her and sent for her to be assassinated so i don't know. Whole thing seems odd and it feels like they just avoided the interaction between the two because they weren't quite sure how to play it off.

Think the two biggest things I'm interested from that episode are: what was the rumor that Cercei and Qyburn were talking about? And where the hell is Varys going?

I think we get the answer to the first one in episode 10. But the second is far more interesting to me. Maybe, he slyly shows back up in Kings Landing like the books.

That is an interesting observation. I'd guess it's nothing other than coincidence, and that he shows up to kill Kevan and Pycelle.

I think it's got to be mostly coincidence.

I mean if he knew Dany was about to return I would think he would have told Tyrion if nothing else since they were having conversations about her and how to proceed.

I think the timing of it has more to do with what's going on in KL. he likely still has sources.

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Guys, just flag it and then ignore it.

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Flag what?

That was a fan made trailer.

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It will be interesting to see how much longer Stannis survives in the books.

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Long enough to burn Shireen, which we know for sure is from the books. And I assume he still gets whipped by the Boltons given that winter is wrecking his army in the books even worse than it did in the show.

I wonder where Theon and Yara go next in the books. Does Stannis turn them loose for some reason? Do they escape during the battle? Are they recaptured by Ramsay for more thrilling torture porn?

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how do we know for sure this happens in the books? is it in one of the released chapters or something?

We know because people keep posting spoilers.

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Tangent: For those of you show watchers who want to try the books but don't have the literary time, I'd encourage you to try the audiobooks as read by Roy Dotrice. They're done so well, he gives them complete justice for what they are in his reading and you can accelerate it do whatever speed you determine is appropriate for you to accelerate through them.

I go through them at roughly 1.5x real-time and the 40 hr books take me some 25+ hours to get through.

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Have you gotten to Book 4 yet? Cause Roy forgets how to do all the voices and turns Dany into the old lady from Snow White.

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It will be interesting to see how much longer Stannis survives in the books.

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Long enough to burn Shireen, which we know for sure is from the books. And I assume he still gets whipped by the Boltons given that winter is wrecking his army in the books even worse than it did in the show.

I wonder where Theon and Yara go next in the books. Does Stannis turn them loose for some reason? Do they escape during the battle? Are they recaptured by Ramsay for more thrilling torture porn?

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how do we know for sure this happens in the books? is it in one of the released chapters or something?

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I have read every book and every WoW chapter and i have seen absolutely nothing ever that suggests anybody will ever burn Shireen. She is at The Wall with her mother.

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It will be interesting to see how much longer Stannis survives in the books.

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Long enough to burn Shireen, which we know for sure is from the books. And I assume he still gets whipped by the Boltons given that winter is wrecking his army in the books even worse than it did in the show.

I wonder where Theon and Yara go next in the books. Does Stannis turn them loose for some reason? Do they escape during the battle? Are they recaptured by Ramsay for more thrilling torture porn?

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how do we know for sure this happens in the books? is it in one of the released chapters or something?

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we know because GRRM confirmed it.

http://screencrush.com/game-of-thrones-shireen-winds-of-winter/

Show creators have said frequently that this event and "hold the door" were two of the most shocking things that came directly from consultation with GRRM. More to come, of course, but they always make it a point to say that major events came straight from future books.

Wouldn't think it was a spoiler if it's said in multiple interviews.

Dumb question here: do the released chapters actually end up in the book, or are they intended to be stand alone "teasers"?

I'd rather wait and read everything in context of the larger WoW story, but if they won't be included, I need to check them out.

Regarding Lady Stoneheart, I don't remember much of her from the book. I seem to remember her being mentioned in almost some hazy dream or something and only for a page or so. Whats the big deal about her storyline?

My useless comments....

Regarding Blackfish, I'm fine with him dying off screen. He wasn't that big a part of the story and we see people die all the time on GOT. Plus, he had one of the best walk off lines ever.

Regarding Arya, it does seem like maybe her trip to Bravos was a waste as she didn't learn all the tricks of the trade. But we have the story in front of us. She could be a kick-a assassin who does everything but replace her face. Or there could be an exchange between Arya and Jaqen that we didnt see where he tells / gives her something that will surprise us later. I'm not going to write off the past two seasons of Ayras trip to Bravos yet. And as far as her injuries and her healing being not that believable, well, out of everything in GOT... this is what we are questioning for accuracy?

Regarding everyone saying this is a boring season, I dont think its any more boring than the first 7 episodes of last season. And last season, they closed out on probably the best two episodes of GOT ever. My guess is these last few episodes will be great.

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It will be interesting to see how much longer Stannis survives in the books.

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Long enough to burn Shireen, which we know for sure is from the books. And I assume he still gets whipped by the Boltons given that winter is wrecking his army in the books even worse than it did in the show.

I wonder where Theon and Yara go next in the books. Does Stannis turn them loose for some reason? Do they escape during the battle? Are they recaptured by Ramsay for more thrilling torture porn?

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how do we know for sure this happens in the books? is it in one of the released chapters or something?

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we know because GRRM confirmed it.

http://screencrush.com/game-of-thrones-shireen-winds-of-winter/

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I don't have the S5 BluRay, but after working my way through that link, i'm guessing its about as confirmed as Jon Snow is permanently dead.

I think Shireen dies, but i dont see how it involves a Red God sacrifice in the books. The story and the logistics are difficult to reconcile with a Shireen burning.

Thanks for posting that spoiler for the books again though

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Regarding Lady Stoneheart, I don't remember much of her from the book. I seem to remember her being mentioned in almost some hazy dream or something and only for a page or so. Whats the big deal about her storyline?

My useless comments....

Regarding Blackfish, I'm fine with him dying off screen. He wasn't that big a part of the story and we see people die all the time on GOT. Plus, he had one of the best walk off lines ever.

Regarding Arya, it does seem like maybe her trip to Bravos was a waste as she didn't learn all the tricks of the trade. But we have the story in front of us. She could be a kick-a assassin who does everything but replace her face. Or there could be an exchange between Arya and Jaqen that we didnt see where he tells / gives her something that will surprise us later. I'm not going to write off the past two seasons of Ayras trip to Bravos yet. And as far as her injuries and her healing being not that believable, well, out of everything in GOT... this is what we are questioning for accuracy?

Regarding everyone saying this is a boring season, I dont think its any more boring than the first 7 episodes of last season. And last season, they closed out on probably the best two episodes of GOT ever. My guess is these last few episodes will be great.

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I think you are confusing LSH with another character

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Tangent: For those of you show watchers who want to try the books but don't have the literary time, I'd encourage you to try the audiobooks as read by Roy Dotrice. They're done so well, he gives them complete justice for what they are in his reading and you can accelerate it do whatever speed you determine is appropriate for you to accelerate through them.

I go through them at roughly 1.5x real-time and the 40 hr books take me some 25+ hours to get through.

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Have you gotten to Book 4 yet? Cause Roy forgets how to do all the voices and turns Dany into the old lady from Snow White.

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The first audiobook release of AFFC was inexplicably narrated by John Lee, not Roy Dotrice, and it was terrible. AFFC was re-released years later with correctly pronounced narration by Roy Dotrice. You're thinking of the John Lee version.

Ok. Thanks JJxvi. Quite possible. It's been a few years since I read the books. Gonna have to go Google to see what all the fuss is about.

Preston hated it. It feels so good to be so right.

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Does anyone else feel like it's strange how Varys arrives immediately after Dany leaves and then leaves immediately before she returns? I get that it could just be coincidence but it almost feel as if they didn't know how to write that interaction (at this time, at least) seeing as Varys isn't even over there in the books.

This coincidence just seems odd to me. Wondering if anyone has any explanation or anything? I feel like he would have liked to see her since him and Illyrio helped her get where she is. But on that same note, he also spied on her and sent for her to be assassinated so i don't know. Whole thing seems odd and it feels like they just avoided the interaction between the two because they weren't quite sure how to play it off.

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Its obviously because Varys is a secret Targaryan with a claim to the throne. His existence is a threat to Danny, and she would have to kill him. He shaves his head to hide his Targ-colored hair. The reason the magician burnt his man-bits was because there's power in king's blood.

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That doesn't make any sense. He is clearly either Dany in disguise or Drogon in disguise. Where was Drogon for so long? In King's Landing and Pentos.

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Does anyone else feel like it's strange how Varys arrives immediately after Dany leaves and then leaves immediately before she returns? I get that it could just be coincidence but it almost feel as if they didn't know how to write that interaction (at this time, at least) seeing as Varys isn't even over there in the books.

This coincidence just seems odd to me. Wondering if anyone has any explanation or anything? I feel like he would have liked to see her since him and Illyrio helped her get where she is. But on that same note, he also spied on her and sent for her to be assassinated so i don't know. Whole thing seems odd and it feels like they just avoided the interaction between the two because they weren't quite sure how to play it off.

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Its obviously because Varys is a secret Targaryan with a claim to the throne. His existence is a threat to Danny, and she would have to kill him. He shaves his head to hide his Targ-colored hair. The reason the magician burnt his man-bits was because there's power in king's blood.

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In the books it is pretty clear that "Aegon" aka Young Griff is Ilyrio's son. There is a theory that Aegon is actually the last Blackfyre pretender, through his mother - Ilyrio's dead wife..which is why the Golden Company that hates the Targs and fought them many times is rallying behind him.



Possibly Varys may be Illyrio's brother in law...he like Illyrio's dead wife is also from Lys and likely has light hair.

None of this is likely in the show since the Blackfyres and the Golden Company do not exist.

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Regarding Lady Stoneheart, I don't remember much of her from the book. I seem to remember her being mentioned in almost some hazy dream or something and only for a page or so. Whats the big deal about her storyline?

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You are possibly thinking of Jamie's dream of his mother Joanna in A Feast for Crows.

Stoneheart shows up in the Epilogue of Book 3 and in Brienne's last chapter and is mentioned in the background for most of Book 4.

I'm pretty sure he was thinking of the ghost of high heart

As an aside...

How do y'all pronounce "Blackfyre"

Black-fire or black-fry?

Martin is like a millennial parent when it comes to names. Using Ys instead of usual vowels.

Fyre
Petyr
Jenye
Etc

Sadly, I'm not. Dotrice did do AFFC after the fact later. Certain choices included turning Dany into and old Scottish crone, changing the pronunciations of both Petyr and Catelyn, and making Melisandra sound all pitchy and whiny.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/53388-first-few-chapters-of-audio-book-dany-melisandre-voice-change/

https://mobile.audible.com/customerReviews.htm?asin=B006LPIVL8

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Sadly, I'm not. Dotrice did do AFFC after the fact later. Certain choices included turning Dany into and old Scottish crone, changing the pronunciations of both Petyr and Catelyn, and making Melisandra sound all pitchy and whiny.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/53388-first-few-chapters-of-audio-book-dany-melisandre-voice-change/

https://mobile.audible.com/customerReviews.htm?asin=B006LPIVL8

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My apologies. The John Lee version was so horrendously bad I just assumed that was the one you meant.

Makes sense in that context.