Juliajms

I do think GRRM probably told the writers how Hodor got that name, so that much is probably going to stay true in the books. I'd say in the books and the show Hodor is/will be crucial to saving all of humanity. Overall, I'm guessing the show and the books will not resemble each other much starting with this season. For one thing GRRM is notorious for changing his mind. He releases chapters before the book and they've been known to change significantly just in the years it takes to write that one book. So even if he's told the writers certain things, I have no reason to think he won't change his mind before any of the remaining books go to print. Also, there are a lot of ways the show has deviated from the books already, Sansa's story is completely different. There are a ton of major characters and storylines that aren't happening on the show. Understandably, imo. I barely got to feel bad about Summer before it became clear that poor Hodor was done for. Did we see for sure that Hodor's eyes were white when he was holding the door? If Bran had control it doesn't seem like Meera would have been screaming hold the door. I'll have to watch again to see, I was too in the moment to even think about it. At first I thought it mattered that Bran can change the past, but now I wonder. Notice he did change the past, but not the present. I do believe Ned heard him at the Tower of Joy, but I don't believe he can go back and tell the Starks not to leave Winterfell and that the change will ripple through time. I sort of wish it would work out that way though. I hope Sansa doesn't regret sending Little Finger away or not telling Jon the truth, although could it ever be a mistake to turn that SOB away? Poor Jorah, I felt bad for him. We know the cure is out there, so I hope he finds it in time.

Here's some good news about HRC's campaign advantage. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/trumps-campaign-dwarfed-by-clintons-223438#ixzz49I79jAFJ

I'm kind of dreading tonight's episode. I don't think the confrontation with the High Sparrow is going to go well. He's too cagey to be taken out easily.

I'd say part of the reason Sanders is holding on is ego. Plus he wants to keep getting attention for his "revolution". Some people just don't know when to call it a day. As for Trump preying on the poor and uneducated, that may be partly true, but there are a whole lot of rich and well educated people falling into line as we speak.

I hope you're right Vee. I'm already sad that so many people are supporting Trump. How is this election not a landslide? I guess it's still early days and maybe when he get closer HRC will have more of a lead than I suspect.

I do think it could happen. I'm a little worried that Bernie Sanders will run a 3rd party campaign. I used to think he would never screw the country over like that, but now I wonder. Isn't HRC's lead in the polls in the single digits at this point? I truly don't get it. Who are these woman who want to vote for him. Ugh!

I agree with some of what you say Carl, but not your take on Ramsey. I don't know how anyone can see him as the slightest bit sexy. He's been framed as the Hannibal Lecter of Westeros almost from the start. At least tonight they made clear that he doesn't eat his victims. I think we've talked a lot about the show being dated. I won't disagree, but the U.S. has changed a lot since the first book was written and in some ways it's just a fantasy period piece. Because of the staggering world wide popularity of the show, it's a little sadder to me that aspects of it aren't more progressive. Some of the visuals are particularly unfortunate, like Dany being lifted up by all of those former slaves. There are little things they could have done all along to make these issues less glaring, but they didn't. On another front, I'd forgotten about the connection between Brianne and Ser Davos. That's an interesting little thread.

Sure. As I mentioned in my own post, I certainly understand it. But it just continues the usual line of behavior for him and it rubs me the wrong way. It has for a long time now. I hope they prove us wrong about this, too. But, yes, I am glad we didn't get to see any of Loras or Margaery's torment. OK, but that's picking and choosing. There are plenty of people in the story who have acted as dishonorable cowards. At the top of the list is Tywin, Roose and Ramsey Bolton and Walder Fray. The whole Red Wedding was an act of cowardice by every single person involved. Ramsey tortures people who are helpless and weaker. Just because he isn't crying doesn't mean he's anything other than a cowardly little bint. Jaime totally gave up after his hand was cut off. Sure, I don't blame him either, but he did. Loras faced The Mountain . Then he didn't run when Stannis was coming until his sister begged him. I don't think there is any reason to think he isn't going to find his feet again just like Jamie and Theon have. Of course he could also be brutally murdered. Arya's story is boring me right now. She may not be blind, but she is still in training and it is a delaying tactic. I'll agree it's necessary to the story, but it's just not interesting to me. And nope, I don't have a lick of sympathy for Jon right now. That letter from Ramsey should have had him doing a little more than reluctantly nodding his head. Sansa has been brutalized by one man after the next, raped and tortured by Ramsey and she still had more fight in her. Azore Azai reborn needs to get his ass in gear.

I don't think I've ever felt like I know where this show is going, except in the case of Jon being brought back. I hoped that the north was already with Jon, but the second I saw Osha brought to Ramsey I knew she was dead. My only surprise there was that he gave her a quick clean death. As far as the pace goes, I feel it is way too fast and that the story has become way too big for 10 hours seasons. We jump from event to event with so little time for character moments. It's not something I'm going to dwell on though because I knew it was inevitable from the start. I agree it's a shame that Loras has been so broken, but he's not really the only gay man (Red Viper) on the show and he's not the only one who isn't brave. Hell, I thought Jon Snow was acting pretty weak this episode. I felt like giving him a good slap. If you think about it the list of cowards on this show is a mile long. Not that I count Jon in that, but he could have been a little more ready to go take Ramsey down. At least Loras has good reason to give up. I'm glad we didn't have to see it (and I can only imagine the backlash if we had), but we can imagine the psychological and physical torture these religious nuts put him through.

A lot of my hopes where dashed this episode. That was a great moment between Jon and Sansa though. I'll say more later.

Whatever his reasons it's really weird that he's lying about it in 2016 when we all know that he's lying. If he had just told the truth it would have just been an odd little blip in the daily wall to wall Trump coverage. Instead the media is now grilling his spokes people and they look like idiots for sticking to the lie and saying things like "I don't care how many voice experts you have it wasn't him". Right.

I don't remember that at all. Jon left the Starks in the second or third episode (chasing after his missing uncle..who is still missing?). You have me thinking about the season one cast and how much now the show has changed. I don't remember it either. Here is the quote. The link I'm posting continues some theories, but not real spoilers. http://www.tvguide.com/news/game-of-thrones-theory-shaggydog-grand-northern-conspiracy/

I was reading an article that said before the Red Wedding Rob named Jon his heir. I totally missed that. I've only watched that episode once. In the books (I know, I know) Rob legitimizes Jon, but did that actually happen on the show? I can't believe I missed it, but I just don't have the heart to watch again. The casting director(s) for this show are pretty great. Young Ned Stark really hit the mark.

I forgot to say, I wish The Mountain had put a sword right through Pycelle last night. I'm not sure why I'm rooting for Jaime and Cersei to get their revenge in this situation, but I am.

All of Ned's children come before Jon, even if after tonight we thought there was any chance at all that Jon really is Ned's. It seemed clear to me that Rheagar left The Sword of the Morning at the Tower of Joy to protect Lyanna, while she gave birth to his child. That child is almost certainly Jon. One way or the other Jon is heir to the Iron Throne, imo. Maybe Rheagar legitimized him before dying or maybe he actually took Lyanna as his second wife. I did think it was odd that TSOTM wouldn't let Ned in, but maybe he thought he would kill Lyanna for breaking her betrothal, or maybe he was just following orders. One thinkg I've realized is that reading the books over the course of years gave me time to process all of the violence. Now that it's happening in such short order it feels overwhelming at times. Maybe GRRM is about to strike again, but I do believe Rickon will be spared. No way I believe the north are willingly choosing that madman as their leader.

I kind of suspect the Umber's are in league with Jon. He probably sent them a raven and this is the only way they could get their army close to Winterfell without raising suspicions. I figure Jon needs more than the Wildlings to take Winterfell from Ramsey. If not, that's one hell of a coincidence in terms of Umber deciding to give in to Ramsey just as Jon is ready to fight. I may be wrong, but it's hard to imagine they are dumb enough to get involved with a kinslayer. How could you ever trust someone who killed their own father for power? Sure, they had a wolfhead, but we can't be sure it was Shaggy.

I can't believe there are more than six months left in this campaign. I imagine it's only going to get uglier. Hopefully Bill Clinton can keep his cool when Trump comes for Hillary.

I hope to never hear him speak again. That cross between a televangelist and a carnie trying to sell the rubes was revolting.

This is an interesting article about the violence in GoT. I don't entirely agree, but I do agree that I didn't need those scenes with Walda and her baby. We get it, Ramsey's an insane sadist. I would have much rather had him poison her before she ever gave birth. The bad part is I didn't even feel much at her death. It was telegraphed the second Roose married her. My main thought during those scenes were relief that the soundtrack didn't include a baby screaming. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2016/05/03/how-much-violence-is-too-much-on-game-of-thrones/?tid=sm_tw

The scenes with Bran at Winterfell were wonderful. So nice to see everyone happy and a glance at Lyanna, which I found touching. The woman is a child of the forest. They saved Bran on the way to the tree. I feel bad for Tommen. I hope Cersei was telling Cat the truth about the black haired baby she bore Robert or Tommen seems doomed. I can't believe Roose was so stupid. He should have had the maester privately tell him the baby's sex and then kill Ramsey when it was a boy. He knew what Ramsey was. I continue to love Ser Davos. Did he ever find out what happened to Shereen?I feel like her death deserved his acknowledgment. So we all knew Jon was coming back. For the last two episodes I've been praying they wouldn't end the episode with Jon taking a deep breath and startling awake. Please show don't do it, it's beyond predictable. They did it. Of course they did. Tyrion has to be a Targaryon doesn't he? Obviously not a spoiler, since we are ahead of the books, but I think maybe all three of the Lanister children are the mad Kings bastards. Isn't that that ultimatum eff you to Robert. He hated them so much and ended up married to one and raising their children as his heirs. Tyrion isn't immune to fire, but I think he has dragon blood. I'm thinking Jon is going to Winterfell very soon to take Ramsey's head. If the God's are good Ghost will take it.

I'm not surprised Boehner feels that way, but I am a little surprised he said it. I mean to actually call someone Lucifer in the flesh.

cat

^ Interesting. So maybe Eugene is the one who dies after all.

Oh, I agree about that. The way it stands now, I think there's probably two possibilities: She's ancient and that necklace is the source of her power, therefore that scene was a reveal of that aspect and unrelated to Jon, who's dead dead. Or, I still hold out hope for, that yes, we got the reveal of what she's really like, but taking the necklace off was symbolic, the price she has to pay (losing her powers and revealing her true self) for Jon's return. It's probably the first option but we can still dream One way or another Jon is coming back.

Yep. I guess I have never envisioned her sailing to King's Landing. The real war is in the north, she has to show up there on Drogon's back doesn't she? I suppose that leaves the question of the Unsullied, but maybe Dany can win the iron born over somehow and their boats will bring them or maybe they will never come over.