Juliajms

Yep. He's been struggling to right these books for a very long time. I'd say, since the second book, he's been having a hard time. That's what happens when you create a world this big. Every time you write a sentence you have to make sure it doesn't contradict something else you've written. Even with help that takes a long time and probably results in bouts of writer's block. I have no idea if he'll ever finish, but if he doesn't it won't be for lack of trying, imo. And yes, he's working on other projects. Sometimes people have to take a break from a project that's giving them a hard time in order to push forward and come back fresh. I swear there are some uber fans out there that would chain the man to his desk Misery style, if they had the option.

What that person said is incredibly rude and selfish. Speaking the truth isn't a pass for being an *******. It's his life, if he doesn't finish the books (and I agree he probably won't and that will suck) then he doesn't. If I were him and someone said something like that to me, I would take my chips and go home. He's already rich, he doesn't have to do one damn thing he doesn't want to do. I'm not the biggest Neil Gaiman fan, but he had that exactly right. Writing novels isn't like chopping wood. You can't force the creative process just by putting your back into it.

You're right, of course. However, the fan girl in me was hoping she would just walk up to that throne and claim it.

At first I thought she would do it, but once I saw her there, I could see that it would have been too undignified.

Jennifer Finnigan will be on Tyrant, which premieres tonight on Fox. http://www.fxnetworks.com/tyrant

I do too, but I have to believe they will both be around a lot more next year, given that Tywin is dead and Tommen is King.

SInce there are two (some might say three) books left for GRRM to write, I would say that's up for debate. We are likely to see Loras again in the next season. I'd also be willing to say that we will see Rickon again before the end of the series. I would not be surprised if he ends up Lord of Winterfell. That's just a blind guess, but I think Jon and Bran have other fish to fry.

She might. She agreed to that James Bond stuff at the Olympics. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/19/game-of-thrones-finale_n_5503715.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592 Interesting read, although it discusses a major spoiler and why it didn't happen at the end of season 4.

Yes, I'll miss Tywin as well. These scenes are why i've never thought of Tyrion as any kind of saint. Shooting Tywin was one thing, but having him kill Shae, so brutally was something else. Within the context of this world, she had it coming, but that was still next level, hands on, murder. I think that Little Finger may be the shows ultimate (human) villain. He plays his cards close to the vest, so it's hard to tell. This is unkind, but I was hoping to hear the Mountain scream. I have no idea why Cersei cares if he lives or dies at this point.

If not for the cannibals, I'd be hoping that Stannis lets the free people behind the wall. He needs more people in his army, to fight both other humans and the walkers. I do think when Bran was told he would fly, it involves dragons (not a spoiler). Either Dany's or others. We don't even know that hers are the only living dragons, although I suppose it's been implied, given the way magic came back into the world after her's were hatched. This was a good finale, but frustrating for me. As I've said before, the story is getting so big. I feel like we only see glimpses of each story and character.

Yes, this is all thanks to Davos. When he got the raven from the wall, he convinced Stannis to borrow money from the iron bank, which they gave him because he promised to pay back what the kingdom owes. This was really a great move by Davos, Stannis and The Red Woman, imo.

This is an interesting article. HBO is cashing in big time. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101757985

GRRM joined twitter https://twitter.com/GRRMspeaking

Right. Jon lied to Mance about how many men the Night's Watch has, so he doesn't realize how few they are nor how weak they are. Jon knew Mance would be coming back with a full on assault the next night. Like any war, winning one battle doesn't mean much, especially since they nearly lost to what amounted to Mance's scouting party.

That quote has become famous over the years. I have mixed feelings. Ultimately, I think NG is right. Are fans owed a conclusion when they've paid good money over the years for each installment? Theoretically perhaps, but I don't think this sort of creative process can be rushed or forced. I would not have been angry if GRRM had never managed to finish the series. Stephen King, who may be one of the most gifted and prolific genre writers of our time took over 20 years to finish his Tower series. HBO getting involved changed the equation, I think. It added a little pressure and motivation to the pot for sure. If he doesn't finish it, I think they will finish it for him. Not the books obviously, but this alternate universe will have a resolution of some sort, imo. Also, there is a ton of money in writing an 8th book. Sure, GRRM doesn't need the money, but how many rich people decide enough is enough when they can get more.

I don't believe he'll bring this ship in under 8 books, no matter what he says. That is unless HBO pressures him to do so. Unlike some fans, I really feel bad for GRRM in a way. People get really nasty about how long it takes him to write these books, but it has to be so hard making sure that everything in the books and short stories is consistent. Obviously, he has assistants and cheat sheets for that, but when you've written something like 5,000 pages about Westeros, it has to be a nightmare.

Of course, he wants power! We just saw him set Robyn up to be his shill in a bid for the Iron Throne. My point is Sansa is his weakness. His soft spot. Possibly the only one he has. He moved heaven and earth on the show and the books to get her to The Vale. He did that because he wants her and he wants her because she looks like the only woman he's ever loved. I don't know how they could make that any clearer. This was exactly my read on it too.

No, obviously I did not mean pretend to be Cat to other people. It's pretty clear that he wants her to create the illusion that she is the Cat of his youth for him alone. This is his one weakness, imo. I don't even think this is alternate universe. I think this is exactly what he wants in the books too. It's just slightly more obvious on the show. Cat is dead, he can never get her back, all he an have now is the illusion. How ironic, considering real Cat never loved him that way in the first place. All his talk about how things would have been in a better world were self delusion. Cat never wanted him. Arya's laugh was simply a young girl confronting the Absurd (in the philosophical sense). Why wouldn't she laugh hysterically? I thought it made perfect sense. It wasn't scary and I don't think it means she psycho. Quite the opposite in fact.

That was a really good interview. I guess it's ever so slightly spoilerish, not by my standards, but perhaps by some. Not adopted, legitimized. If Roose can do it, so can any other ruler in Westeros.

Well, Oberyn wasn't the Prince of Dorne. I think it's safe to say, he's not going to be pleased by this turn of events and he has Myrcella. I think Cersei is so out of her mind with grief and revenge, she didn't fully think that through. Watching that fight seen was so frustrating. What a horrible way to die. I loved the little smiles that Jaime and Tyrion were sharing. They both looked so hopeful. I don't mind the Sansa scenes. I always thought this was where she was headed. I certainly don't think pretending to be Cat for Peyter is the end of her story, but I always thought it would be one stop along the way. Gross, but it's the only real choice she has. Has anyone seen a list of places they'll be filming in this next season? I'm just curious.

OK, now it's my turn to make a minor gripe (to those who don't like these comparisons feel free to scroll) In that story Oberyn tells how Elia cooed and fussed over Tyrion and saw nothing except a baby when she looked at him. I wish they had mentioned that it was Elia specifically who showed Tyrion affection. It would have humanized Elia a little more, instead of having her just be the woman The Mountain raped and killed. She was a good girl with a loving heart who didn't deserve what Tywin did to her. It's a small thing, but considering Elia is the whole reason Oberyn is in King's Landing about to fight the man even Bronn fears, it would have been a nice touch, imo. I guess I don't consider it that bad given that she was a young child herself. I can give her a pass for bad behavior as a child, she didn't have the reasoning ability of an adult. I'm not saying she's all bad now either, but she has a hell of a mean streak at times. I liked the scene between Bronn and Tyrion. Bronn was brutally honest, but not unkind. I believe their friendship is real, but Bronn isn't Ned or even Jaime. He's not going to die (or lose a hand) for honor or friendship. I thought is was interesting that Dany decided to show some mercy, she usually doesn't once someone has crossed her. Nope. Lysa was crazy as a bedbug. Little Finger isn't a good guy, but he was smart enough to know Lysa was going to kill Sansa eventually. He might have talked her down this time, but there would always be a next time. Plus, Robin is another Joff waiting to happen. He enjoys seeing people "fly" a little too much. Someone has to take him in hand before he's old enough to send half the Vale out the moon door because they "annoy" him.

It's really more like Lord of the Rings, imo. You could just watch and then stop if the material is offensive.

I get what you're saying Carl. I had to do a lot of fanwanking to accept that Shae screwed Sansa over, especially given some of the stuff she said to Varys about how she would kill for Sansa. One of the things I told myself is that Shae knew that Sansa had escaped and maybe even knew it was due to Little Finger. Overall, I think fans of any show who are interested enough to discuss it online are going to be much more critical than the average viewer. It's very similar to soaps, they will never please all of us all of the time. For me, Shae has been one of the more annoying aspects of the show. They wrote TV Shae as smart, world wise and loyal and then they changed it all on a dime. I don't have to like that and I don't. There are plenty of other things for me to like and watch for.

I think it was partly under duress, but she did turn to him and say "I'm a whore, remember?" so it was partially in revenge for his rejection of her. I can't believe she didn't realize he said all of that stuff so that she would leave and be safe from Tywin.

Not only did he agree right away, but he had basically been telegraphing to Jaime that he wasn't going to allow Tyrion to be executed, Jaime just wasn't hearing it. Jaime offered something he never needed to, imo, so of course, Tywin snapped it up. Tywin sure looked completely comfortable on that throne. As far as I'm concerned Yara went above and beyond just rallying her men to go after Theon. She warned him not to try to hold Winterfell and he was too foolish to listen. I felt like Bran being an able little lord was a nice testament to Ned's fathering. He did his best to teach his sons what their duties would be. Obviously in our world taking someone so young to an execution would be completely messed up, but Ned was sure to teach his children the responsibility of leading early on.