I guess they are pushing that whole story line back to next season, including Balon's death. In the books he died before Robb, but he is still alive in the show. I suppose it makes some sense, as it means they don't have to cast those characters until next year, but it's been a long gap since Balon last appeared on the screen for someone who is still alive and has aspirations of being a king himself. It was a bit odd for Moat Cailin to FINALLY be mentioned in the show when Roose ordered Ramsay to go take it. It was a key reason why Robb felt the need to patch things up with the Frey's, because he was denied access to the north as long as the Ironborn held Moat Cailin, but it was never even mentioned that it existed in the show prior to that, and they never had Robb making plans to retake it or concerned about it in the least. Also it would have been much more heavily defended if the majority of Ironborn hadn't abandoned it to attend the Kings Moot.
I think they will be bringing that part of the story with Balon's brothers towards the very end of this season. I'm surprised he's still around too. In the books, he disappears into the tide. We have a good night of tv tonight with Game 4 of Rockets-Blazers and Episode 4 of Thrones.
I hope the Greyjoys don't get a lot of screen time. That whole Iron Born family (including Reek) bored the hell out of me in the books.
It'll pick up when Victarion goes on his mission for Euron Crow's Eye. I'd say more but I'm not sure if any of you guys read any of the new chapters from The Winds of Winter.
I get the feeling they might introduce Coldhands now. Have trouble believing Bran and Jon Snow are gonna meet. Glad they did something with Bran, because in both the books and the show he has been a complete waste of time so far.
Fatntastic ending to that episode. We got to see the Land of Always Winter, the creation of a white walker thus confirming a longstanding fan based theory, and according to this article if you dug a little further through the episode's extras we were apparently introduced to the Night's King. Link: http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/game_of...is_confirms_major_white_walker_theory-2014-04
I believe coldhands was the one who took the baby. I think he will come back and rescue Bran. Bran is an important character albiet he hasn't played a major role in the series yet.
Bran getting captured by the mutineers was a curve ball for me.. Guys, correct me if wrong but I from the books I always had the impression that Jon didn't know Bran/Rickon were still alive? Much less that he will probably save Bran and his companions from the mutineers. Also, how did the mutineers capture Summer? I don't recall that as well.
Yes, Sam is sworn not to tell anyone including Jon that Bran is still alive, and he has kept his vow to this point. The mutineer story line never happened in the books. The last we saw or heard of them was when Sam fled, and presumably the Others or the wights killed them. The idea that Jon and volunteers need to go kill the mutineers so that they don't give Mance info doesn't make much sense in the show considering Mance is a former Ranger himself, so he knows the general strength of the watch and layout of the wall. No need to interogate the mutineers to get that info. They could give him more recent info perhaps, but the idea that it is some sort of critical data is definitely over blown. It also makes no sense that they would capture Ghost and then keep him alive. Basicly the writers are just making up drama to try and make Jon and Bran's story line more interesting until the attack on the wall.
Hahah, not sure why I called him summer but I mean Ghost. You caught my meaning. I think you are right, writers just want to spice things up in the wall.
But that new Night's Watch recruit is Locke (the show's version of Vargo Hoat and same guy who cut Jaime's hand off) who Ramsay/Roose Bolton sent to the Wall after Theon told them about how Bran and Rickon were still alive and how they might seek out Jon. And he volunteered to go with Jon to Craster's. I don't think they're setting those pieces in place just to have Jon and Locke (he he, "Jon Locke") miss Bran. Most likely they find him. Locke tries to kill Bran and Jon has to fight him and kill him to save his brother. Maybe Coldhands is involved in the same event and takes Bran away while Jon is fighting Locke or something like that.
This one works pretty well: http://www.watchgot.net. There might be other, better sites, though. I'm not sure.
In the books . . . . was who killed Joffrey ever answered explicitly like in the show? Rocket River I might have missed it
Good point about Mance already knowing the layout. However you have to keep in mind that the series and the book are not 1 for 1. I dont think the series mentioned Mance being part of the nights watch. If so, nice catch on the plot hole. Sometimes I get lost when they deviate from the books.
They do mention it several times in the show. The reason they want to kill the mutineers is because Jon told Mance that theres over 1000 rangers at Castle Black alone, meanwhile the Mutineers know that theres hardly over 100 rangers in the Nights Watch total.
