You can tell that GRRM isn't completely running the show/story lines as we would've had a lot more upsetting things happen so far this year. But I agree and am awaiting something awful.

It will be fun to read his ending (if he ever finishes the books) as compared to what Bennioff and Weis come up with for the show.

He's probably been sitting on both finished copies of the series just waiting for the HBO series to end so the storylines wouldn't get all twisted up in the fan's minds. Plus, it would be the ultimate troll job by GRRM to yell out "I've had them right here the entire time!!"

I wonder how long after the books are finished until the series gets a reboot.

I'm disappointed with the characters since they've gone off book. Varys has been all but neutered (no pun intended). Tyrion? He was a piss poor ruler last season in Dany's stead.

Meh.

I'm wondering how the **** a fact that important to the rulers of Westeros gets lost in a book? All those grumpy maesters with all those books, and that little piece of info was just sitting there undiscovered, only to be found by goofy ass Gilly?

"Trying to be sensible" answer - The Maesters have been overwhelmed by the needs of producing new Maesters for the Seven Kingdoms since the time of Robert's Rebellion that they haven't had time to properly read and transcribe all the histories written to that point, and that nugget of info fell through the cracks (still doesn't explain why the original old fart Maester that transcribed it didn't scream to the rafters that a Targaryen and a Stark had married and produced an offspring, but I digress).

"Honest answer" - The writers for the show appear lazy because they don't have enough time to tell the story properly.

There are a lot of different possibilities with the books that the show has shut off (understandably given time constraints). You have Sam at the Citadel and that could go in some cool ways with Pate and other characters. Mance Rayder is still alive and doing whatever he is doing. Barristan Selmy is still alive and kicking. And the Sand Snakes are actual cool characters. Lastly, there is Victorian which lends more depth to the whole Greyjoy storyline. And don't forget Lady Stoneheart.

Yeah, I would think the old fart that originally wrote that down maybe should have shared that discovery. I mean, that info would have changed the political direction of the entire realm. A royal marriage annulled? If they can't record and share shit like that, WTF are they really doing?

Who was Raegar originally married to?

Heir to the Iron Throne annuls a marriage and takes another wife? Meh.

Elia Martell. Oberlyn's sister. That's why he fought the mountain. The mountain killed their child in front her and then raped and killed her

Thanks!

I know they're pushing the story forward at a faster pace, but the Glendry reappearance felt super rushed.

Yep. I really don't give a shit about him or his sister, but how do you not even mention Theon? This could have easily been 10 episodes.