oh Bas, that was so very interesting to read! "Joffrey Barathister"! Pure gold. Tried to get Mr. Tir to tell me his predictions but he refuses. He says he's too emotionally involved and can't deal with admiting expectations out loud cause he knows they're gonna be crushed, and would only tell me who he wants to die and not, which is no fun.
-- Edited by Tir Airgid on Saturday 25th of January 2014 05:39:32 AM
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“Fear is a strange soil. It grows obedience like corn, which grow in straight lines to make weeding easier. But sometimes it grows the potatoes of defiance, which flourish underground.”
Mr. Macha (who only read the first two books) strongly believes Tywin is gonna kick the bucket, but he doesn't know how or who will do the deed. And because he wouldn't stop asking, I finally told him Tywin's story in the future, and he was genuinely surprised. So whatever happens in the show, it should be good. Other than that, he's expecting a good season for the Starks, or what's left of them, he can't predict anything about Team Dragonstone 'because they're a bunch of weirdos', and he strongly disagrees with me that Theon was gelded. 'You didn't see it! If you didn't see it it didn't happen.' 'But what about his reaction when he sees Psycho Hobbit eating a sausage?' 'He was just confused, he only *thought* he had been gelded."
Black as Snow wrote: Actually, I'm wondering if they'll kill Yara this season. They might just.
It would have to be a memorable death then, otherwise there wouldn't be much point to her character from what we've seen so far.
Cary, LMAO!
Yeah, it's not likely. The way I see it is that an awful lot can happen in one season. Maybe she takes some actions that start yet another chain of events in motion and she dies at the end of the season. It's possible that Yara starts something in Dorne or some other port of call that plays out over the next couple of seasons, with or without her. Maybe she makes it all the way around to save her brother, kills the new Warden of the North and is fatally wounded, only to realize in her dying moments that her baby brother was lost to her when she left him in Winterfell.
I think Yara sailing into Dorne is a good possibility. I know they introduce that area in season 4. I know it's at the southern end of the continent, and that there's something strange about the women. I can only think of three ways to introduce Dorne and the key characters there. The first is if Dany crosses the Narrow Sea and lands there. The second is if Yara stops there on her way around the continent. And the third is if Davos goes down there to rally troops for Stannis.
One flaw I've noticed in Jaime's redemption story. Jaime claims to have saved the population of King's Landing by killing Aery's which stopped him from igniting all the wildfire that had been planted across the city, but, In the end the city was still sacked by Tywin's forces and the people were slaughtered and raped by that army.
Al, I think the idea is that Jaime is a Lannister he does not really see redemption the same (from saving from Targ to saving from a Lannister). Plus he had no idea Tywin's army will do that much damage. He had other things on his mind there. Tywin did that show of force simply because he waited until the last moment to declare allegiance to Robert. Once that was done, he had to make it look good and hence unleashed Gregor and his devils. Just my two cents on it.
Al, I think the idea is that Jaime is a Lannister he does not really see redemption the same (from saving from Targ to saving from a Lannister). Plus he had no idea Tywin's army will do that much damage. He had other things on his mind there. Tywin did that show of force simply because he waited until the last moment to declare allegiance to Robert. Once that was done, he had to make it look good and hence unleashed Gregor and his devils. Just my two cents on it.
I agree with TW. Besides, if we're using the term "redemption", then I think it's a way to describe the way we perceive Jaime, and not how Jaime perceives himself. He did what he thought was right for the people of KL and for his family. He couldn't predict the consequences of that, and we can't know if leaving Aerys alive would have meant a better faith for the city. I don't think it's a flaw, it's just something to sustain one of the key points in the entire series - that in times of war there is one side that is always loosing, and that's the common people.
Well Jaime isn't completely oblivious to the nature of his father and the type of animals he posses at his disposal. I am sure Jaime was reminded daily about a certain family that was scorched off the face of Westeros because of Tywin.
I was only jokingly bringing up the point though, it's just the way Jaime comes off a bit pious during the speech to Qyburn that made me think about it.
I was just thinking about poor Sansa and what this season might have in store for her. She knows Robb and her parents are dead. Does she know Winterfell was sacked, and her little brothers are presumed dead? I'm sure someone must have gloated about it to her by now. She's had no word of Arya or Jon, and I'm sure she doesn't know her uncle is missing. But I think she probably considers Jon and Benjen lost to her, since they are members of the Night's Watch. She really has nowhere to turn. All she has are her "friends" Margaery and Shae, and they could betray her for their own interests at any time. Does she realize that? I'm sure she's smarter than she lets on, but it's hard to say whether she truly understands the limited value of those friends. The only real positives for her coming into season 4 are that Little Finger is gone and that she's married to a character who cares about her and will look out for her to the best of his ability. I don't know how much Tyrion's protection is worth in the lion's den, but he is her only true ally. I don't see Sansa's situation improving much this season. I just hope she learns from the Queen of Thorns and Margaery while she can. That she's tougher than she seems, but I don't know that she's going to be able to survive this season. I hope she's a survivor.
Lady Black, she also has her aunt Lysa Tully, Cat's sister at the Eyrie, but since that one is bonkers-bananapants she should take her chances elsewhere.
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
Hmmm, I forgot about her. But does Sansa know she's a wacknugget? Unless Tyrion has told her about his experience with her and fly boy, I don't think she would have reason to know. Since she's married to Tyrion, I doubt the Aerie would be a viable option for both of them. And she would be under such a cloud of suspicion if she went alone. But again, she wouldn't know that ahead of time unless Tyrion has enlightened her.
Now that you mention it, I hope we get to see the Aerie this season once Little Finger gets there. There's a merry nuthouse for you.
Now that you mention it, I hope we get to see the Aerie this season once Little Finger gets there. There's a merry nuthouse for you.
But Littefinger is the smartest and the most cerebral of them all isn't he?!HAHAH
A bit off topic: I am very curious how an Unsullied views Littlefinger, Lady Black! Do you like/hate/are intrigued/indifferent to character? Personally, I think Aidan is awesome in the role and does him justice with the adapted script he is given. But I am completely biased and I keep projecting things that are only in the books when it comes to LF. which makes me not want to comment about him in TV forums.
Season 1 Littlefinger was perfect but once they wrapped up filming that season Aiden Gillen was abducted by aliens and anally probed. He's not been the same ever since then, I don't know if it's the writing or D & D's direction of the character but he feels like a pantomime villain these days.
TormundsWoman wrote:A bit off topic: I am very curious how an Unsullied views Littlefinger, Lady Black! Do you like/hate/are intrigued/indifferent to character? Personally, I think Aidan is awesome in the role and does him justice with the adapted script he is given. But
Little Finger is a great character. He's a self-made man who has thrived in a snake pit, the product of blind ambition and ruthlessness who will stop at nothing to further his interests. In a show full of moral relativists, he is a different creature...he is entirely free of morality. That makes him terrifying because he is probably more ruthless than Tywin and he appears to be every bit as cunning. I won't say I like him, but he is certainly fascinating. And this season he can court Lysa Arryn and attempt to upgrade from his mockingbird to something far more powerful. It will be interesting to see how he handles her delusions. I will miss his exchanges with Varys. Those have been some of my favorite scenes.
TormundsWoman wrote:A bit off topic: I am very curious how an Unsullied views Littlefinger, Lady Black! Do you like/hate/are intrigued/indifferent to character? Personally, I think Aidan is awesome in the role and does him justice with the adapted script he is given. But
Little Finger is a great character. He's a self-made man who has thrived in a snake pit, the product of blind ambition and ruthlessness who will stop at nothing to further his interests. In a show full of moral relativists, he is a different creature...he is entirely free of morality. That makes him terrifying because he is probably more ruthless than Tywin and he appears to be every bit as cunning. I won't say I like him, but he is certainly fascinating. And this season he can court Lysa Arryn and attempt to upgrade from his mockingbird to something far more powerful. It will be interesting to see how he handles her delusions. I will miss his exchanges with Varys. Those have been some of my favorite scenes.
Oh, oh, I cannot wait for you to see this season!!! I can't comment more on what you said, but let me tell you... we would have had a huge convo if you'd have been a book reader. About those moral relativists and him an absolute chaos theorist. Love your take on him!
Season 1 Littlefinger was perfect but once they wrapped up filming that season Aiden Gillen was abducted by aliens and anally probed. He's not been the same ever since then, I don't know if it's the writing or D & D's direction of the character but he feels like a pantomime villain these days.
I fear that while I see the drastic difference in book vs TV show character, I simply cannot not like him.
Also, I never noticed the accent change. Not once. Either something is wrong with my hearing or I am oblivious to it. For the life of me I never got that. Which means I am throughly enjoying his acting. Sometimes being ignorant is a blessing. LOL
Season 1 Littlefinger was perfect but once they wrapped up filming that season Aiden Gillen was abducted by aliens and anally probed. He's not been the same ever since then, I don't know if it's the writing or D & D's direction of the character but he feels like a pantomime villain these days.
I fear that while I see the drastic difference in book vs TV show character, I simply cannot not like him.
Also, I never noticed the accent change. Not once. Either something is wrong with my hearing or I am oblivious to it. For the life of me I never got that. Which means I am throughly enjoying his acting. Sometimes being ignorant is a blessing. LOL
Ignorance is bliss! I still enjoy the character I've just noticed a decline in the quality of Aiden's acting since S1. It's all subjective, if you're enjoying his performances then that's all that matters
I love the unpredictable element Oberyn has brought to King's Landing this season. He's like a snake that's coiled up and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And even though he's playing nicely with Tywin for now, he has made it clear that he came to King's Landing for revenge. What I like about his character is that he's made it clear he doesn't believe in collective guilt. He holds individuals (Tywin and the Mountain) responsible for their actions, but doesn't extend that grudge to those who don't hold direct responsibility. That's a rarity in Westeros, and I have such respect for it. So I'm excited to see how he plays the hand he is dealt. He strikes me as a man of action, not a Little Finger type who schemes and plots. So let the action begin!
Lady Black, I'd give you a like to that post if I could! Oberyn is nothing of not poised for action. We'll see tomorrow night what if anything happens.
I don't like Jojen and his sister, and I find the whole Bran storyline kind of annoying. Jojen and his sister strike me as naive northern kids, just like the Stark kids. They don't have a clue about the real world, and they're off on this half-baked mission based on a bunch of visions and overly idealistic thinking. I wouldn't be surprised if none of the current group except Bran made it to the tree. I imagine they'll find others to assist them on their journey (Benjen, please!!!). I'm sure there's something to the visions, but I don't think we should assume that the visions are leading Bran to something benevolent. It may be something that refuses to take sides in a war between an ancient evil and mankind. It may also be something that directly or indirectly gives Bran the knowledge that man needs to defeat the White Walkers or put them back into dormancy or whatever. I have to confess that even though I'm not very engaged in Bran's storyline, it may become quite interesting. Probably not this season though.
I don't like Jojen and his sister, and I find the whole Bran storyline kind of annoying. Jojen and his sister strike me as naive northern kids, just like the Stark kids. They don't have a clue about the real world, and they're off on this half-baked mission based on a bunch of visions and overly idealistic thinking.
I have to admit, although I'm very interested in Bran's storyline in the books, and although I luuuv Jojen, I was never sold on the Reeds as part of the story, not even in the books - but I won't comment on that. I never understod their motive, and it always felt very fantasy-cliche for me. Have these kids nothing better to do than face all sorts of dangers and for what, to help Bran unlock tree achievement? It feels stupid, but I suppose it's exactly their motivation that hasn't been revealed yet that might makes us all go "oooooh, so that's why...". It's obviously some mystical mumbo jumbo that has to do with Bran's powers and maybe the part he plays in the end-game, dunno. The fact that he's becoming more and more disconnected from everyone and anything smells fishy to me though.
I don't want Jaime or Tyrion to die. And I feel so sure one of them will next episode. Noooooooooo, not my Jaime.
I truly think Jaime is going to give his life to save Tyrion's. It seems like his story is complete. He sent off Brienne with his Valyrian sword and a vow to fulfill his promise. He finally sees Cersei for exactly what she is. And he has promised to toe the line and do his father's bidding if Tyrion lives. So what is left for him, other than death? And what a perfect ending to his redemption arc for him to give his life for Tyrion's. It seems to me that he would be the crown's champion, as the Lord Commander of the King's Guard. My only hope is that Tywin will not allow him to fight and will name someone else champion.
-- Edited by Black as Snow on Monday 12th of May 2014 12:40:24 AM
There are four episodes left this season, and I've been thinking what could happen between now and the end.
I don't think there will be much more substantive action for Dany, but I think the inevitable discovery of Jorah's spying may take place, thanks to Varys' little birds. And she might get her groove on with Daario, even though I can't imagine why she would go there.
In the north, I don't think Bran will reach his destination, even though he may make some interesting discoveries or have a vision that predicts some real excitement for next season (as Mel did at the end of last season *ahem*). I still think Jojen will die before the season ends, and it's possible that Bran will find someone else to join his entourage (*cough* Benjen *cough*). Especially if Meera also dies.
I think Arya is indefinitely treading water. She learns and her character develops, but there's not much substantive action. There is the likelihood that the increased bounty on the Hound will get them into some tough scrapes (and may get the Brotherhood after them again), but it's really just more of the same. My only hope is that they run into Brienne and Pod. Because as cute as Podranne are together, I can only stomach so much more of them. If that were to happen, I think the Hound would meet his end.
As for Sansa, I'm hoping that she gets that second opportunity to send someone plummeting to their death, and she takes it this time. I don't know whether that will be Little Finger, Lysa or both. My fingers are crossed for both. I'm hoping she doesn't sacrifice herself in the process. I would so dearly love for her to stop being passive, although it has served her well so far. I don't want her to waste away at the Aerie, trapped by LF and crazy Aunt Lysa.
I think we're going to get our Wildling - Night's Watch showdown before the season is out. I don't know how the Night's Watch can previal against the sheer numbers Mance Rayder has assembled. Earlier in the season, I had some hope that Stannis and his men would get to the wall, perhaps with the Brotherhood, to help the Night's Watch. At this point, I don't see that happening before this first (and maybe final) engagement. At the same time, I don't think they're going to kill Jon Snow yet. So it will be interesting to see how the battle goes and what the outcomes are, particularly for Sam, Gilly and Ygritte. I hope Sam grabs Gilly and runs! I would like to see the Night's Watch and the Wildlings fight the WW together. The only way that's likely is if the Wildlings get trapped between the wall and an army of WW zombies.
I don't know what will happen at Moat Caitlin, and I don't think it's important to the larger story. I hope the Boltons get whacked by the Iron Born, but I don't think it will be that simple. I would like the Iron Born to remain a problem for the Boltons. Maybe if we're lucky, the Boltons will be unsuccessful at Moat Cailin and will enlist the Freys to assist them against the Greyjoys. We need dead Freys, even if that's unlikely to happen before the end of the season. Maybe the Greyjoys could align themselves with the Brotherhood?
In King's Landing, I think the Lannister family is about to implode. Either Tyrion or Jaime will die, and Tywin will follow soon after. What that means for King Tommen and Cersei is a mystery. I doubt Margaery will have the opportunity to marry a third king before all hell breaks loose. Ooooh, one wild thought...what if Loras dies in the duel, and Tywin marries Cersei to Oberyn to solidify that alliance? That would definitely throw a wrench in things.
And Stannis...he's got his boats and his money. I think he's going to hire those mercenaries Davos was talking about. But what does he do with them? Does he jump into the middle of the chaos in King's Landing? Or does Melisandre convince him to get his priorities straight and take his army to the Wall (and save Jon and his buddies while they're at it)? That would mean he lied to the bankers, but I'd like to think he does the latter. An unpredictable move like that is exactly what his story needs.
-- Edited by Black as Snow on Friday 16th of May 2014 06:20:41 PM
Lady Black, I am sure you remember how the last time Tyrion asked for a trial by combat, he asked Jaime to be his champion at first. But Jaime is not the same man he was back then. Who would be your top 5 champion choices for him and why?
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
Top 5? I don't think there are 5 people in King's Landing right now who would be willing. My first choice is Bronn because he's a bad ass. But with Tyrion's change of fortune (literally) and the mysterious reappearance of Shae, I'm not 100% sure Bronn would stand with Tyrion. At the same time, Bronn knows Tyrion is innocent...anywhere but Westeros, that would be enough to convince me. But Bronn is as pragmatic as Varys and money-driven and that worries me. That being said, if Bronn is Tyrion's champion, Bronn will win.
My second choice is Jaime. I don't know if Jaime would win. I don't know if Jaime would stand for Tyrion. He has a sudden concern with doing what is expected of him as Lord Commander of the King's Guard. So I don't think that will happen. In fact, I think Jaime would be more likely to fight in the name of the crown precisely because of his position.
I'm not sure who else there is to stand for Tyrion. I don't think for a moment Tyrion will fight. Brienne would be a good candidate, but she's long gone. Oberyn would be sympathetic to Tyrion and may have caught on to the truth of his innocence, but he's a judge. Maybe Varys can arrange something behind the scenes, but I can't think of any other BAMFs in King's Landing. How about Jaqen H'gar! No, really. I've got nothing.
Ooooh, wait. I forgot Loras! Loras is a bad ass. I just don't know why he would defend Tyrion when he is betrothed to Cersei. Unless being betrothed to Cersei has made him suicidal. I know Margaery doesn't want Tyrion to get railroaded, but it would be politically disastrous for Loras to fight on Tyrion's behalf. It's possible that Cersei would encourage such a move if she got wind of the possibility in the interest of wiping out Tyrion and her fiancee in one fell swoop. There could be no better outcome for her. But how do you make that happen when it's such a political minefield to even broach the subject?
-- Edited by Black as Snow on Friday 16th of May 2014 06:42:30 PM
Oooooh, one more thought. What if I'm wrong? What if Oberyn isn't disqualified by being a judge? Tyrion said that the gods would judge him when he elected trial by combat. So it's possible that Oberyn is free to be Tyrion's champion, should he feel compelled to. And he doesn't give a damn if he pisses off the Lannisters by doing so. If that's the case, Oberyn will win, and Tyrion will live. Why? Because he wasn't introduced to the story to die defending Tyrion.
I've been thinking about possibilities for a battle at the Wall. I don't know whether it will happen this season, but it kind of seemed to be going that direction before Joffrey's death and the whole trial thing grabbed a prominent role. I had been thinking that Stannis' troops might swoop in to save the day from the massive wildling army, much as the Tyrells did at King's Landing. But we haven't seen much movement from Stannis. So it would be a very long journey for Stannis and his mercenaries. Bolton's forces being trapped south of the moat would be helpful for him, so at least he wouldn't have to face them on his way there. But what about the Karstarks and other bannermen whose troops left Robb before the wedding, and therefore are still alive in the north? It seems like too much for three episodes, even though travel in this series is remarkably fast and trouble-free. Then again, maybe Stannis isn't planning on going north yet, and his focus truly is on King's Landing.
Thorne's behavior is nonsensical. The goldcloak guy's ignornace can be excused -- I see him as acting much like some of the Lannisters in discussing the Wall, making jokes about snarks and grumpkins. Of course he doesn't take the threat of white walkers, giants and undead armies seriously. But Thorne has presumably been at the wall long enough to climb the hierarchy. He knows that hundreds of Night's Watchmen were wiped out north of the Wall, and there are only 100 men at Castle Black. I don't know whether he believes in White Walkers and giants, but he saw the zombie for himself. He knows there's something terrifying afoot. He obviously hates Jon and has contempt for Sam, so he might even be excused for not believing the details of their stories. But what about Grenn? He's a ranger. He was at the battle at the fist. And there's no denying that someone filled Jon Snow with arrows south of the Wall. At what point are there so many disturbing events that a lightbulb finally goes off in Thorne's head? He's not stupid. Are we supposed to believe he's so arrogant and spiteful that he will throw away his life and allow Castle Black to be overrun in his hubris? I just can't buy that. It's preposterous.
I assume the wildlings' master plan is for those south of the wall to take Castle Black and then open the tunnels beneath the Wall when Mance Rayder lights his fire. It appears that there are relatively small numbers of wildlings south of the wall...a couple hundred at most. I think the wildlings will attack the town where Gilly is to draw out the Night's Watch. Smaller raids haven't worked, so they might try something more ambitious. Attacking Castle Black at the outset would cost a lot of men, and the wildlings probably don't have enough forces south of the wall for that to be worthwhile. So at least a diversionary attack in the town would help lessen the numbers at the castle. Once the castle is under attack, maybe the giants can scale the Wall simultaneously. I don't know that they would fit into the tunnel to wrench open all the gates, as Jon was imagining, unless the only gates are at either end. If there aren't gates in the center of the Wall, the giants could definitely get the wildlings into the tunnel. The only thing that would save Castle Black if the wildlings can pass freely beneath is massive reinforcements from either northern houses or Stannis, which would make for an epic battle.
An alternative attack plan that occured to me is whether Mance's "biggest fire" is some sort of fire-based attack that will actually melt a section of the Wall. He doesn't have wildfire, as far as we know, so I'm having trouble imagining what that would be, other than a sustained attack with burning projectiles, whether from giants or catapults. It's seems short-sighted to destroy part of the Wall to get to the other side if the reason for doing so is scary monsters pursuing you. But we know that steel doesn't stop the White Walkers...remember the sword shattering? Maybe they can shatter all the gates and waltz right under the Wall. So Jon's idea of sealing the tunnels with ice is actually a decent idea. My only other thought on wildlings being capable of creating massive fires or fire weapons is that it would make a great weapon against the zombies. Too bad they don't seem inclined to stand and fight.
The other scenario that would be fun is if the wildling army masses at the Wall, and is then trapped between the Wall and the White Walker/zombie army as they wait for the tunnels to be opened. But it doesn't seem likely. I think the White Walkers are an issue for a later season.
One final possiblity is a truce between the Night's Watch and the wildlings. But a truce is hugely problematic. I don't think the wildlings have any intention of standing with the Night's Watch or anyone else to fight the White Walkers and whatever else is up there. I got the distrinct impression that their attitude was the same as Osha's: get as far south as you can, as fast as you can. I would be surprised to see them agree to stay north and fight. More importantly, it would be disastrous for the Night's Watch to grant the wildlings passage to the south. The wildlings have no second thoughts about murdering and pillaging and cannibalizing the people they encounter south of the wall. And whether they stay near the wall and fight or go south, I got the impression that Mance Rayder doesn't have good control over their actions. These are diverse people, just like the Hill Tribes. They've bound together out of necessity, but they aren't disciplined, principled troops that will forego their needs and wants to obey a central command structure. For the Night's Watch to knowingly unleash a horde of tens of thousands of wildlings on westeros is akin to unleashing the Dothraki on Westeros, at least as far as the common people are concerned. I don't think Jon would do that, but that the idiots currently in charge might.
So I think Jon will make a stand against the wildlings no matter what. And I think that stand will be incredibly costly, even if he survives the battle. I think Jon might be put in a position to kill Ygritte. Again. And when I wrote the word "again," it made me think that this time Jon will kill her in an act that shows he's not the kid he was at the Fist anymore. And it would be the perfect heart-wrenching ending to their relationship. I just hope Tormund lives. I like him.
But what about the Karstarks and other bannermen whose troops left Robb before the wedding, and therefore are still alive in the north? [...]
At what point are there so many disturbing events that a lightbulb finally goes off in Thorne's head? He's not stupid. Are we supposed to believe he's so arrogant and spiteful that he will throw away his life and allow Castle Black to be overrun in his hubris? I just can't buy that. It's preposterous.
Uuuu, lovely post. Would love to comment more, but I'll restrain myself to just these two points.
I would love to see what happened with the other northmen that abandoned Robb. For now I think we're left to assume they don't care about who is king anymore, and that they accepted Roose as Warden of the North, although this could just be an empty title and mean nothing to them. Still, the fact that Roose doesn't mention any other problems in the North is a sign that no one (hat he knows of) is in open rebellion except the Greyjoys.
What do you thik will happen at Moat Cailin? Because I have no idea anymore.
I tend to be more forgiving with Thorne, since I actually like him better on the show. Could be the actor's "fault", he's terrific. But I think he genuinely believes the Wall will hold and that no army, no matter how big or impressive, can get through. He trusts their barriers because he has no reason not to, so far. Sure, these young kids can tell them Mance has giants and so on, but Throne is a proud veteran, of course he's not inclined to believe them. But I don't think he's aware that his decisions could place anyone in danger, he doesn't want that. He wants to keep his options open, and he's faithful to his oath, which for him implies also ranging beyond the Wall in order to protect it. If he accepts to seal the gates in ice, it probably means no one will be able to use them again. If they try to melt the ice or break it afterwards, it could endanger the whole structure. Perhaps there are other gates at the other abandoned forts, but if there are, why haven't the wildlings use those instead? Actually, we know there's a secret passage that Sam uses, but it's not something you could use for supplies or horses.
Anyway, it's a risky decision, possibly irreversible, and I can understand his hesitation, even though of course for us as viewers it's frustrating.
Yeah, I see your point about Thorne, @Macha. I know many men like him, and they're so incredibly aggravating. They think their knowledge of how things are (or were) means that they don't need to take a second look or re-evaluate. It really is aggravating though, especially juxtaposed with Jon be right on the money with his suggestions. It's an annoying setup. It's hard for me to stomach that this guy doesn't stop and think through his assumptions.
As for Moat Cailin...wow, that's a tough one. It's so much easier to predict major plotlines than minor ones. I'm assuming that Yara and the Killers are there. Ramsay has been tasked with getting the Ironborn to abandon the Moat. And to do so, he has to convince Yara and the Ironborn that Theon is worth trading for; that he is not the shell of a man Yara encountered at the Dread Fort. I expect that Ramsay wants the Ironborn to leave and take Theon with them, and then Theon can kill Yara and/or his father once he is "behind enemy lines."
My guess is that Yara meant her words to the Ironborn before they snuck into the Dread Fort. And she's too smart to fall for Ramsay's ploy. I can't imagine Yara giving in to the hope that the "Theon" that shows up at the Moat will indeed be anything but a minion of the Boltons. But I do think she will strike a deal for Theon and perhaps even go through the motions of abandoning the Moat before double-crossing Ramsay and attacking him and his men. And I think anything goes as far as this battle. Yara, Theon/Reek and Ramsay are all expendable. Of course, my hope is that Theon has indeed regained some portion of his free will and he will kill Ramsay. It probably wouldn't happen in a "happily ever after" way. It would be in the midst of his own death and possibly the death of his sister.
One other thing occurred to me about Sansa. I wrote (above) that Jon would get a do-over of the situation where he needs to kill Ygritte, and this time he does it. I realized that the Sansa situation may well play out the same way. She had an opportunity to throw Joffrey from the bridge after he killed Ned, and she hesitated. The Hound saw her intentions and stopped her. I think she'll get another opportunity to push an evil man to his death, this time with Little Finger. And I think she will take it, even if it means she goes out the moon door with him. It's a more heroic ending than most characters are allowed, but it's fitting for Sansa to act and not make the same mistake again. Little Finger's character has kind of jumped the shark, and it's time for him to fly. Obviously, it would be better if Sansa could convince Robin to make the bad man fly, but I think that's a long shot.
And to finish out my speculation on a ridiculously happy note, I think Tyrion and Oberyn will emerge victorious from the Battle Royale and will collude to kill Tywin. Tyrion and Oberyn will flee the capitol before Tywin's corpse is cold and head to Dorne, where Tyrion will live out his days reading on the beach and consuming endless barrels of Dornish wine. With Shae, because they're mature enough to admit that their actions were out of necessity, not out of spite, and they still love each other madly. The end.
And to finish out my speculation on a ridiculously happy note, I think Tyrion and Oberyn will emerge victorious from the Battle Royale and will collude to kill Tywin. Tyrion and Oberyn will flee the capitol before Tywin's corpse is cold and head to Dorne, where Tyrion will live out his days reading on the beach and consuming endless barrels of Dornish wine. With Shae, because they're mature enough to admit that their actions were out of necessity, not out of spite, and they still love each other madly. The end.
Well Lady Black, now that the duel ended...slightly differently...does it affect your speculation for the fate of Tyrion?
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
"Joffrey Barathister"! 
Pure gold.
I can only think of three ways to introduce Dorne and the key characters there. The first is if Dany crosses the Narrow Sea and lands there. The second is if Yara stops there on her way around the continent. And the third is if Davos goes down there to rally troops for Stannis. 
is Rhaegar's bastard!
He's too old!
true.
I don't want Jaime or Tyrion to die. And I feel so sure one of them will next episode. Noooooooooo, not my Jaime.
I'm hoping she doesn't sacrifice herself in the process. I would so dearly love for her to stop being passive, although it has served her well so far. I don't want her to waste away at the Aerie, trapped by LF and crazy Aunt Lysa. 
...does it affect your speculation for the fate of Tyrion?