# Game of Thrones 2.09 "Blackwater" 5/27/12 No Book Spoilers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266 "2012-05-27T18:36:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/201 "2012-06-01T20:23:51Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > Is it Sunday yet!?! > > I am like a silly little kid when it comes to this show. I’m already planning myself a series “re-watching” from the beginning when this season is over, because otherwise I’m going to go into withdrawals. 🙂 Well you may want to prepare yourself, because Sunday is the season finale. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/202 "2012-06-01T20:27:02Z")
Well, we’ll have three seasons, at least… but twenty might be asking for a bit too much. > **[Game of Thrones (season 3)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones_(season_3))** > > The third season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on March 31, 2013, and concluded on June 9, 2013. It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States, consisting of 10 episodes, each running approximately 50–60 minutes. The season is based roughly on the first half of A Storm of Swords (the third of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, of which the series is an adaptation). The series is adapted for te The... ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/203 "2012-06-01T20:36:24Z")
For those of you who have not read the books, there are some minor spoilers in the Wikipedia link, mainly dealing with characters who will be cast for Season 3. Figured I’d give fair warning for those who wish to remain completely unspoiled. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/204 "2012-06-01T20:36:23Z")
It’s HBO’s 3rd highest watched show of all time. I’d be shocked if it didn’t get a 4th season. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/205 "2012-06-01T22:19:13Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > It’s HBO’s 3rd highest watched show of all time. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/206 "2012-06-02T00:52:51Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Cite? > **[With ‘Homeland,’ Showtime Makes Gains on HBO (Published 2012)](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/business/media/with-homeland-showtime-makes-gains-on-hbo.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1)** > > As Showtime edges closer to its competitor’s subscriber numbers, HBO is ready to counter with a spate of big projects over the next six months. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/207 "2012-06-02T03:41:10Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/business/media/with-homeland-showtime-makes-gains-on-hbo.html?pagewanted=2&\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/business/media/with-homeland-showtime-makes-gains-on-hbo.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1) Nice. 9.3 million is a monster number. For comparison, Rome (according to wiki) had around 7 million viewers its first season, down to 6.6 million its second. Meaning GoT has half again the audience for half the cost. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/208 "2012-06-02T03:53:26Z")
What is that dark thing hanging from the wall as The Hound enters the place where Bronn and his friends are drinking? It’s rather large, and almost looks like a burned body. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/209 "2012-06-02T04:18:36Z")
Looks like a rather large bird hanged by its neck to me, but more probably some kind of hanging lantern, maybe ? ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/210 "2012-06-02T04:46:54Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > It’s gonna need to run for like 20 seasons if they have to wait for Martin to finish writing the series. I don’t see why they would cancel it though, it seems to be doing incredibly well in both ratings and accolades. I have a solid suspicion that HBO might actually finish the series in place of Martin writing the books, to be honest. Or at least, I can easily imagine that happening; hasn’t Martin already basically signed over rights to HBO to do what they wish with the show, including going beyond the books if needed? Or did I just make that up somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/211 "2012-06-02T06:50:37Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I have a solid suspicion that HBO might actually finish the series in place of Martin writing the books, to be honest. Or at least, I can easily imagine that happening; hasn’t Martin already basically signed over rights to HBO to do what they wish with the show, including going beyond the books if needed? Or did I just make that up somewhere… I have no idea, but it seems prudent, since the books aren’t finished and Martin could die tomorrow. I doubt they would do it under normal circumstances, though. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/212 "2012-06-02T11:56:01Z")
What i read was that Martin gave them a very basic outline of what would happen with each character. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/213 "2012-06-02T13:15:33Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > What is that dark thing hanging from the wall as The Hound enters the place where Bronn and his friends are drinking? It’s rather large, and almost looks like a burned body. I thought burned body at first, too. but on rewatch, I think it’s a wooden sculpture of a body. perhaps a sign for the tavern they are drinking in? The Old Burnt Sailor or somesuch? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/214 "2012-06-02T13:22:03Z")
I captured a screenshot of it. It seems to be an image of a hanged man, missing the top half of his head. I don’t think it’s burned, just black. [![](https://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/djetz/etc/shot0001.jpg) ](https://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/djetz/etc/shot0001.jpg) I agree with **gonzoron** , it’s probably the sign of the Tavern of the Hanged Man or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/215 "2012-06-02T13:29:49Z")
…and here it is again from the scene where the Hound enters. As you can see, it’s obviously a hanged man. [![](https://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/djetz/etc/shot0002.jpg) ](https://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q49/djetz/etc/shot0002.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/216 "2012-06-02T13:53:22Z")
A couple of other things I noticed on rewatching the last few episodes: The scene where Littlefinger is talking with Tywin - it looks to me like he _does_ recognise Arya. The _other_ thing going on that scene is that LF is suggesting to Tywin that he, Littlefinger, should approach the Tyrells and sound them out for an alliance on the basis that everyone hates Stannis and that the Lannisters and Tyrells can settle any remaining differences after Stannis is defeated. Which, as we now know, worked out. At no point does Tywin say anything about attacking Rob. Tywin just says “Let’s be off” or words to that effect. Arya assumes that he’s going to attack Rob, and one of the nasties that Arya rescued along with Jaquen says something like “Let’s go hunt some wolves” which simply means that _he_ expects to be attacking Rob Stark. But Tywin doesn’t say anything about _where_ he’s going - perhaps deliberately, if he thinks Arya could be a spy. …and, at the end of the battle, fresh troops ride in to attack Stannis’ men just as Tyrion is falling unconscious. If you look at them, they’re flying Lannister lion banners. Of course, we now know that Tywin arrived in the nick of time, but if we’d been looking closely enough, we’d have possibly spotted it earlier. On rewatching, it looked to me like Tyrion recognised the Lannister reinforcements riding in to save the day even as he was fading out. …and, no _way_ is Tyrion dead. Not a chance. And I feel certain that Bronn will also have survived. But Tyrion is just too good a character to kill off. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/217 "2012-06-02T14:03:02Z")
Plus it didn’t even look like that bad an injury, frankly i don’t even get why he was fainting. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/218 "2012-06-02T16:08:01Z")
Not everyone is resolutely stalwart when slashed across the face and confronting the very real possibility of imminent death. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/219 "2012-06-02T18:43:51Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > And I feel certain that Bronn will also have survived. When is the last time we saw him? I think it was when he saved the Hound, before he abandoned the battle and came inside. Did we see him after that? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266/220 "2012-06-02T19:06:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > When is the last time we saw him? I think it was when he saved the Hound, before he abandoned the battle and came inside. Did we see him after that? I don’t think so. I did find it odd that he didn’t join Tyrion to fight at his side on the foray outside the gate. I had to go back a few times to look to see if Bronn was the one who got the top of his head sliced off by Stannis, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t him. The confrontation in the tavern with the Hound, and his later saving the Hound’s bacon, would seem pretty superfluous if he had died. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-09-blackwater-5-27-12-no-book-spoilers/623266.md?page=12)