Game of Thrones (spoiler-free zone)

[keg in kc]

A few have suggested it, might as well test the waters. The idea is to give people who haven't read the books a safe place to talk about the show.

A few quick ground rules:

• No Spoilers!!!!! for upcoming episodes.
• Larger Song of Ice and Fire discussion should be limited to the other thread although I think a tiny bit of book delving to fill in holes should be okay (example of this would be talking about Catelyn and her treatment of the wolves in the novel, which was alluded to on TV but never really made clear...)
• Everything that happened that week is fair game once an episode airs. So if you don't watch on Sunday night, I'd stay outta here until you do...

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Why does everyone think it's Oberyn? The Mountain vs The Hound makes more sense.

The Hound is a wanted man and a long way away. He won't be going anywhere near King's Landing if he can help it.

And I'm not sure it will be Oberyn, but he still has a part to play here and revenge is clearly in his mind. I also think the glimpses of Jaime's training sessions all season might have been done for a greater reason as well.

[Sfeihc]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Why does everyone think it's Oberyn? The Mountain vs The Hound makes more sense.

The Hound is now a wanted man. Remember, Tywin put a HUGE bounty on his head early in this past episode. He would be a dead man long before he could make it back to King's Landing to serve as Tyrion's champion.

[Iconic]

Ahhh, got it. Makes sense now... Tywin will pick The Mountain and Oberyn will happily fight for Tyrion just so he can get vengeance on The Mountain for killing his sister.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

Can he pick a Judge? I think Prince Oberyn has an affinity for Tyrion. If The Mountain represents the Crown, wouldn't that be Prince Oberyn's perfect opportunity for the vengeance he seeks?

That has to be it. Oberyn's chance for vengeance.

[Aries Walker]

(Speculation from a non-book reader follows.)

Well, Bronn hasn't had much character development so far. He hasn't ever been outside of his comfort zone, been challenged much by anything, and hasn't even really been in any danger. He comes across as invincible, and the best way to add depth to an invincible character is to let him get his ass kicked, and watch him recover (see: Jaime Lannister). This would seem to be just the right opportunity to do that.

But. First, do they care if Bronn is a deep character? He's comic relief, and certainly not the focus of the show. Within the story, he'd be Tyrion's logical champion, but we've already seen that story, and it seems kind of predictable. I will guess that he'll either be killed, kidnapped, or bought off, so that he isn't available for Tyrion to choose. My money's on kidnapped (i.e., locked in a broom closet somewhere until it's all over, like Geoffrey Rush did to those noblemen in Elizabeth).

As for the King's champion, there's the Mountain, who I think (?) is out of town, but we'll run with it. We've already seen Loras beat the Mountain straight up, but I can't imagine Loras fighting for Tyrion. Oberyn vs. Mountain would be interesting, but I think the show is leading up to Jaime fighting for Tyrion. His opponent then would be Oberyn, who would leap at the opportunity to dispense of both of Tywin's sons in one go, ending House Lannister while ironically fighting for Tywin, and not even being charged for it.

And of course, it won't go as planned. I would bet that Tywin will, for the sake of preserving his family, rig it for Jaime to win, killing Oberyn and setting Tyrion free in the process. Cersi will be livid, and (through Loras) may well turn the Tyrells against the Lannisters. Hijinks will ensue.

Now we'll see how wrong I am. If nothing else, this should be a fascinating four weeks.

[Iconic]

.... I still feel like Jamie plays a role in this. Just seems odd for him to stand by and not defend his brother.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Why does everyone think it's Oberyn? The Mountain vs The Hound makes more sense.

Viper wants revenge on the Mountain. And next week's episode title is a dead giveaway.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Viper wants revenge on the Mountain. And next week's episode title is a dead giveaway.

"The Mountain and the Viper".... your right. Damn this slays virtually all speculation then.

[Aries Walker]

Oh, sure. Now that I typed all that shit out.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

Oh, sure. Now that I typed all that shit out.

Good speculation none the less. Just shows how abstract these plot lines are in GoT. Given the same situation you can come to virtually any conclusion.... **** I can't wait till next week.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

Oh, sure. Now that I typed all that shit out.

[Hawk]

Actually, next week's episode is called "Mockingbird".

Episode 8 is called

Spoiler!

"The Mountain and the Viper"

, and unfortunately, that one doesn't air until June 1 due to them skipping the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend...those cruel bastards!

Episode 9 is "The Watchers on the Wall"
Episode 10 is "The Children"

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

Oh, sure. Now that I typed all that shit out.

Haha, it was good speculation though.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Viper wants revenge on the Mountain. And next week's episode title is a dead giveaway.

Originally Posted by Iconic

"The Mountain and the Viper".... your right. Damn this slays virtually all speculation then.

That should have been in spoilers. Seriously guys, use your heads. If the title of the upcoming episode gives plot points away, put them in spoilers. Goddammit.

[KcMizzou]

Grantland's got some great writers. This is just the part about the trial. But the whole thing is worth a read.

Just a few weeks removed from Joffrey’s despicable wedding entertainment, here was another dwarf forced to submit himself to a high-society farce. Everyone played his or her role to perfection, from Oberyn’s crowd-baiting grins to Margaery’s disturbed glances. And it was quite rich, all the well-fed hypocrites hubbub-ing in the aisles, pretending to be shocked by stories of things they themselves dream of doing every night. And Pycelle with his laundry list of poisons! As if the most dangerous venom in King’s Landing were stored in a bottle and not in the Queen Regent’s veins. Yet what stung the most was the cold, Law & Order–like logic of the actual trial. Tyrion wasn’t hoisted on his own petard, he was spit-roasted on it. Every word used to damn him emerged from his mouth over the course of the series, context be damned. (Cersei’s impressive wine consumption clearly has had no ill effect on her memory and uncanny ear for dialogue.)

Jaime’s self-sacrifice was moving — one Kingslayer laying down his life for another — but it was also a trap. The speed with which Tywin agreed to Jaime’s proposal, and the ease with which he referred to the actual parentage of his grandsons (“you’ll … father children named Lannister”), made it plain that once again the Hand of the King was holding all the cards. Instead of killing a son he didn’t love, he gained the son he always wanted. It would have been almost beautiful if it weren’t so cruel. (Also cruel? The instant dismissal of Lancel Lannister, the Frank Stallone of Casterly Rock. Let a dude live!) Like Daenerys, Tywin leaned on the word “justice” like a crutch, a prop to lift himself up even as he stoops into the muck.

It all almost worked, too. Tywin was moments away from having Tyrion banished to the North and Jaime exiled to eHarmony.com when someone overplayed their hand. At first it wasn’t clear whether Shae had returned of her own volition, but soon, as the bitterness flew from her mouth like daggers, it was plain that she was there only to hurt Tyrion as much as he had hurt her. In the end, it wasn’t hard. With his heart separated from his body, the Imp no longer cared much for the fate of his head. And in that moment, instead of making a joke, he chose to make himself heard.

Littlefinger was right when he said that everyone in King’s Landing is a liar, but, for a single glorious moment, there was one man in the center of the throne room speaking nothing but the truth. Yes, he wanted Joffrey dead. At Blackwater Bay, Tyrion had saved a vile city unworthy of his largesse. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again, just as he won’t give the backstabbers and social climbers the pleasure of his continued humiliation. If he must face the noose, he’ll take it into his own hands. A trial by combat isn’t about defending your past, it’s about fighting for your life. (Whether Tyrion will actually pick up a sword this time or once again tag out in favor of a more skilled champion — Bronn? Left-handed Jaime? — remains to be seen. I’m hoping for the former.)

The final moments of the episode zoomed in tight on the reactions of each Lannister with a drama bordering on the operatic. (I’m sure someone with more Internet-ability than me will be able to rescore the scene with its rightful music.) It was a stirring finale to one of the best episodes of Game of Thrones to date, and an appropriate one. In a flash, a global conflict was reduced to a domestic squabble. It made sense. Only family can establish a dynasty; only family can destroy one.

http://grantland.com/hollywood-prosp...-recap-tyrion/