The Official Game of Thrones [A Song of Ice and Fire] Thread (includes spoilers)

[The Human Q-Tip]

Well, like I said, I think it's possible that Connington causes a greyscale epidemic in the Seven Kingdoms. That could still happen if Jorah has it rather than Connington, especially since it seems like Dany may head back a bit sooner on the show than in the books to compensate for the lack of Aegon and Connington.

Well, to what point?

I mean, greyscale has been around for a very long time, and we don't ever get the sense that it's something like the plague that could spread rapidly and infect tons of people. Why not just use another disease if you just wanted an epidemic? And, having it be nothing more than an epidemic would seem to be a pretty tangential, unnecessary threat considering everything else that's going on. Why would D&D bother? Isn't there enough going on otherwise?

Plus, if you were going to have an epidemic, do you really need to have it start with an on-screen character? Why couldn't you just have someone talk about an epidemic of greyscale starting somewhere unknown, maybe in Volantis or Braavos, and then spreading? Having a character who plays a significant role in the plot get it solely for the purpose of starting a general epidemic just seems pointless to me if it is just "a disease".

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it just seems to me there must be a very particular, plot-driven reason that specific disease needed to be picked up in the show, and by an on-screen character as well.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I mean, greyscale has been around for a very long time, and we don't ever get the sense that it's something like the plague that could spread rapidly and infect tons of people.

Actually, we do get that.

“A Braavosi trading galley called at Pentos on her way back from the Jade Sea. The Treasure carried cloves and saffron, jet and jade, scarlet samite, green silk … and the grey death. We slew her oarsmen as they came ashore and burned the ship at anchor, but the rats crept down the oars and paddled to the quay on cold stone feet. The plague took two thousand before it ran its course.”

“I was a boy in Oldtown when the grey plague took half the city and three-quarters of the Citadel. Lord Hightower burned every ship in port, closed the gates, and commanded his guards to slay all those who tried to flee, be they men, women, or babes in arms.”

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Actually, we do get that.

“A Braavosi trading galley called at Pentos on her way back from the Jade Sea. The Treasure carried cloves and saffron, jet and jade, scarlet samite, green silk … and the grey death. We slew her oarsmen as they came ashore and burned the ship at anchor, but the rats crept down the oars and paddled to the quay on cold stone feet. The plague took two thousand before it ran its course.”

“I was a boy in Oldtown when the grey plague took half the city and three-quarters of the Citadel. Lord Hightower burned every ship in port, closed the gates, and commanded his guards to slay all those who tried to flee, be they men, women, or babes in arms.”

Okay, so greyscale killed a few thousand people a few times...so what? In the context of everything else that's happening in Westeros/Essos, it seems inconsequential. Probably 100 times that many died in the War of the Five Kings.

I'm just trying to figure out why it is important enough for the books to give it to Connington, and for the show to give it to Mormont even after Connington's part was cut.

Of course, it's entirely possible that there isn't really any larger significance at all. It's just something "cool" the writers wanted to include in the show. But it just seems odd to me that it survived as a plot thread when so many others have been altered this season.

 

[Chris]

I really don't understand the greyscale endgame either.

 

[Sebastian]

Just had a thought: Anyone hear about Asha/Yara being in this season? Wondering if her arc in the show is essentially over. Sure hope not.

The actress is credited for episodes 7, 9 and 10. Presumably she is captured at Deepwood Motte by Stannis in episode seven.

 

[Andrew]

Spoiler

Glad to finally catch a new episode after a month! :banana:

I wish Daenerys acted like she knew what she was doing. I only watch the show but I hope at some point there is a key plotline with the dragons. At this point, how can a whole bunch of people fear her? She can't even control her pets, I hope that eventually comes out.

I wish Sansa just wouldn't lay there, I hope she avenges her family.

Greyscale is freaking scary.


I don't read the books so if any of the above has answers, please don't tell me lol.

 

[sjhughes]

I know most people on here are pretty deep into the books and have been watching the show. I don't know how to create the spoiler tag so I apologize however, does anyone think Aemon conversation about John stating "kill the boy and raise the Man" is some foreshadowing. I may have messed the words up some but I know the conversation ahs to do with the Wildlings however I feel this could be foreshadowing Johns supposed Death and all the rumors surrounding that. What does everyone think?

 

[SixPACK]

I know most people on here are pretty deep into the books and have been watching the show. I don't know how to create the spoiler tag so I apologize however, does anyone think Aemon conversation about John stating "kill the boy and raise the Man" is some foreshadowing. I may have messed the words up some but I know the conversation ahs to do with the Wildlings however I feel this could be foreshadowing Johns supposed Death and all the rumors surrounding that. What does everyone think?

 

[Kbiz]

There is no evidence in the book or the show that Tyrion hasn't contracted greyscale either. While it may be a stretch, he was touched in both ADWD and the last episode.

Martin has stated that greyscale symptoms could come on strong or lay dormant for years....call it the HPV of Westeros.

Considering that Tyrion is Martin's favorite character, if he is to go out, i expect it to be in some epic fashion but assuming Tyrion has a big hand in the endgame of the entire series, it's worth noting he may have also contracted greyscale in the stone men attack.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

There is no evidence in the book or the show that Tyrion hasn't contracted greyscale either. While it may be a stretch, he was touched in both ADWD and the last episode.

Martin has stated that greyscale symptoms could come on strong or lay dormant for years....call it the HPV of Westeros.

Considering that Tyrion is Martin's favorite character, if he is too go out, i expect it to be in some epic fashion but assuming Tyrion has a big hand in the endgame of the entire series, it's worth noting he may have also contracted greyscale in the stone men attack.

Uh, just had a very weird thought.

What If greyscale is somehow related to dragons, and having greyscale means that dragons feel an affinity for/won't attack you?

I know there's really no basis for that, but it seems odd that those stone men are concentrated around Valyria, and it could be a way for Danaerys to find two other riders.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Uh, just had a very weird thought.

What If greyscale is somehow related to dragons, and having greyscale means that dragons feel an affinity for/won't attack you?

I know there's really no basis for that, but it seems odd that those stone men are concentrated around Valyria, and it could be a way for Danaerys to find two other riders.

They're not concentrated near Valyria in the books, though. In the books, they're in the Sorrows.

Pretty sure they just put them there on the show to give some backstory on Valyria rather than some random place that's totally unimportant to the greater plot.

 

[kosis]

Effing hell. That ending.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

That ending scene made me very uncomfortable. Not knowing how the show is going to further deviate, I was hoping that Theon would bash Ramsay over the head.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Thoughts on tonight's episode:

• These Arya scenes are definitely not as good as they were in the books. I think I just really don't like the girl they cast opposite her.
• Digging this Tyrion/Mormont scene. Jorah isn't nearly as insufferable as he was in the books, and I like the character moment they gave him where he finds out his father died.
• Okay, this Arya scene is way better. Lying to the little girl to get her to drink the water. Great stuff.
• Hall of faces! Looks cooler than I pictured it in my head. Kind of miss the little joke from the books where Arya thinks they're eating the dead. Other than that, good scene.
• I don't know why, but I love Tyrion's little cape. Adorable.
• It's too bad Tyrion and Jorah couldn't have been caught by Salladhor Saan: Sex Pirate. They probably would have preferred that adventure.
• The brands on the heads of the Sparrows are a bit much. Not a fan of that change. They just look silly.
• Not going to even pretend to understand what Littlefinger's game is at this point. Then again, I'm not really sure what he's trying to do in the books either.
• So is he going to unite with Stannis to oust the Boltons? That seems like a risky proposition given that Stannis can be a little less than lenient when it comes to people he perceives as traitors.
• Then again, if Littlefinger gives Stannis the Vale, I guess Stannis will probably have to swallow his pride and go with it.
• Regardless, I think it's pretty obvious that Littlefinger isn't going to kill Sansa. It's interesting to see his motives on the TV show, as they probably give us a window into his plans in the books since both will ultimately end up in roughly the same place.
• "The Dornishman's Wife!" I guess this is our new song this season.
• Jaime blows his cover basically immediately.
• "You fight pretty good for a little girl."
• I love seeing the wide shots of King's Landing and thinking, "I'll be there in four weeks." Can't fucking wait.
• Olenna is back! Had no idea she was coming back this year.
• Tommen stays a bitch.
• Buckle up. Shit's about to get dark.
• Sansa getting all badass in the tub. Doubt that lasts long.
• Hey, we finally get to see a Northern wedding. Shame they dropped the ball in season two and had Robb get married under the Seven. I wish real weddings were this fast. Get the boring part over with and get to the drinking.
• "My father said you're still a virgin." Ramsay straight to the sweet talking.
• Eh...that wasn't nearly as fucked up as the wedding night in the books.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I thought the Arya storyline in Essos was boring as hell. At least they got that right.

Really like Jaime and Bronn together even though they just made it up for the show. The whole "Darkstar" thing in the books was pretty horrible, so that's an improvement.

I think replacing Jeyne with Sansa makes for a better story. But the way they've simplified the whole Winterfell storyline just makes that aspect of the plot look a bit thin.

Can't figure out Littlefingers game. He's already betrayed the Lannisters by letting Sansa hide out in the Eyrie in the first place, and now he's betraying the Boltons. I think he's taking an incredible risk that the Boltons won't rat him out to Cersei.

Like the change in KL that has Margaery arrested for lying. Makes more sense than the way they did it in the books.

Cersie is being a complete idiot, which I suppose also isn't a change. She doesn''t even have the backing of her own house and now she's pissed off her only allies. She literally has nobody on the side except Tommen, who doesn't really have much actual power without his uncle.