Oh, right - I read the words “last person alive” and took it to mean “Ned of all people would not have had a clue”, instead of its literal meaning.
I’ve never swallowed the story about Jon being Ned’s bastard.
I don’t think he’s Robert’s bastard either: we have Gendry filling that role. I don’t think Gendry’s a McGuffin.
Whose bastard is Jon? Is he even an actual bastard? This being GRR Martin, I am certain that at some point we will find out, and that it will be someone important.
Does anyone sympathisize with the wildlings at all? I mean, when it gets down to it - these are all just humans running away from terrible ice monsters. The watch fear the walkers as much as anyone else can and yet would gladly see all the wildlings die on their side of the wall if only that their naff little castle holds.
Well, in Howard Zinn’s People’s History of Westeros, you can read their side of the story, and no kings or knights or anyone called Ser Hrufrufruff.
Didn’t Robert love Ned’s sister?
IIRC Cersei mentioned Rob drunkenly mentioning her name while he had sex with Cersei.
I think the weak point of that theory is that seeing how Snow’s presence affected his wife during 20 years, if it wasn’t his bastard he certainly would have told his wife …
Also while talking with Ned in the countryside, Robert mentioned Ned’s mistress so it seems pretty sure John is Ned’s son.
But clearly the mother will show up at some point, since if I remember correctly JRRM asked the guy adapting the books for TV to guess who the mother was before agreeing to it (I fear spoilers so I won’t google for the source of that…)
Thanks Vashbul I will look into that - appreciated.
I rewatched the episode and have come to the belief that potato kid was actually a shapeshifting Jaqen Hagar. I support this with zero evidence other than the wierd look he gives Jon right after pulling off that awesome heart shot, kinda like, ‘your welcome, stranger’. Seemed out of character for a nine-ish year old to be that badass after looking like a mope beforehand.
I hope Jon ends up being truly highborn and can reclaim/rebuild Winterfell in time. I’m not 100 % sure walking alone and swordless into an enemy stronghold will benefit that hope, though. I’m preparing for tragedy myself.
Not the way he was cowering and sobbing when the Wildings attacked. I am sure we will see Jaqen H’ghar again, but not as Potato Ollie.
I guess Jaqen H’ghar is the Boba Fett of the GOT world…
That is a lovely thought, for sure. But that is not the way Martin writes.
It is far more likely that both Jon Snow as well as Winterfell will both be destroyed in some ghastly manner.
I get the feeling that Martin is just not happy unless any character that he has built up is destroyed in great mayhem and manevolence. Martin is basically, a prick!
At this point, have we just given up on this being the “no book; show only” thread?
Can the sticky be changed to reflect this?
Mance Rayder, apparently.
Other that that, do the people of Westeros seem particularly sympathetic towards other humans, period?
The Wall is sort of a Hadrian’s Wall on steroids. The intent may have been to protect against future White Walker incursions, but lacking an actual threat, the result has been to separate anyone caught north of the Wall from the rest of Westeros. Those north of the wall became “Wildling” barbarians and those south became the “civilized” (although no less barbaric) people of Westeros.
And like Hadrain’s Wall (or other permanent fortifications throughout history), the GoT Wall is of dubious military and economic benefit. Determined people seem to be able to circumvent the Wall, almost at will, by going over, around or through it. The Black Fort is obviously vulnerable to being flanked. And if and when the White Walkers attack in force, I’m sure they will possess some sort of supernatural powers or devices that render the Wall as nothing more than a speed bump or tripwire that serves little purpose other than to buy some time for Westeros.
Technically…‘more destroyed’ for Winterfell.
Winterfell is already destroyed.
…is that a whooshing sound I hear?
Boba Fett wishes he had as many lines and as much screen time as Jaqen did. If Jaqen were the Boba Fett of GoT, he would’ve shown up two times in Season 2, said no more than ten words and done nothing even remotely badass. Then, between Season 2 and Season 3, he would’ve gotten a TOTALLY RADICAL action figure. Finally, in Season 3, he would’ve walked off a cliff into a dragon’s mouth.
Nope. Not at all sure what in the bit you quoted would make you think this.
On the other hand, the Facebook recap is still totally OK in this thread.
“First you want to kiss me, now you want to kill me. Blow.”
-Ash, Army of Darkness
I loved this episode. By contrast, the battle of Blackwater was shot very claustrophobically, and did a poor job of providing context of the lay of the castle and the grounds. The Wall was nicely laid out for the viewer with tracking shots, exposition, etc. My favorite bit was ther results of the last stand in the tunnel against the giant, a beautifully done little scene.
I wonder about the faceless men, can they take any face? Can they impersonate someone else? Or do they just have a few stock faces that they rotate through.
If you know your wife is the kind of fool that would free Jamie Lanister (yes, I know that happened after Ned died but I am sure he had plenty of other occasions to realize she lacks sense) then you might not trust her with a major secret.
From the sticky:
Seems pretty clear to me. I mean, apparently I’m in the minority - if everyone else wants the rules to be different then it makes sense to allow it. But in that case, someone needs to change the sticky to reflect that.
Of course he can. How else would he be able to do…ANYTHING with a group of 100,000.
Having them man the wall doesn’t mean having them join the Nights Watch. He makes a deal with Jon to let 98000 through to settle south of the wall and leaves 2000 fighters to support the wall.
He explained how in no uncertain terms. 
They’ve joined Manse and accepted his leadership, but it’s an alliance rather than a dictatorship. They’re there willingly. This is very important to these people and Ygritte and Tormund explained it to Jon at some length. And their army is kind of disorganized for that reason.
He can only leave them there if they choose to stay, and I’m skeptical that they would do so.