# Game of Thrones: omnibus discussion thread based on knowledge of books (OPEN SPOILERS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377 "2011-04-22T17:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 64
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1261 "2011-07-01T13:23:38Z")
Similarly I think another spoiler several of us have very considerately avoided mentioning was “Hodor’s age matters because I can believe a twenty year old Hodor trudging for months across the frozen tundra with Bran on his back a lot better than I can believe a forty-five year old Hodor trudging for months across the frozen tundra with Bran on his back”. So, since the only people to read this thread will be ones who HAVE read the books…next year should there be a big kids thread? I’m not talking wall-to-wall spoilers (Dude, is Joffrey going to die this episode or the next?), I’m talking the ability to speak freely while still acknowledging that the books exist. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1262 "2011-07-01T13:34:02Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > So, since the only people to read this thread will be ones who HAVE read the books…next year should there be a big kids thread? I’m not talking wall-to-wall spoilers (Dude, is Joffrey going to die this episode or the next?), I’m talking the ability to speak freely while still acknowledging that the books exist. > > -Joe I’m planning on having a second-season version of the non-spoiler background thread again. Hopefully, it’ll be used more than this season’s was…I think it may have just been started too late for people to really become aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1263 "2011-07-01T13:36:29Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Similarly I think another spoiler several of us have very considerately avoided mentioning was “Hodor’s age matters because I can believe a twenty year old Hodor trudging for months across the frozen tundra with Bran on his back a lot better than I can believe a forty-five year old Hodor trudging for months across the frozen tundra with Bran on his back”. Considering that absolutely 100% of the book readers kept the BIG spoiler from this past season a secret (seriously, I don’t think anyone even dropped anything more specific than a VERY general “no one’s safe” in relation to Ned), I think the sheer amount of whining that’s gone on about quasi-spoilers is pure wankery. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1264 "2011-07-01T13:39:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m planning on having a second-season version of the non-spoiler background thread again. Hopefully, it’ll be used more than this season’s was…I think it may have just been started too late for people to really become aware of it. Well, I think the problem with your thread (intended or not) was that it was seen as a place to ask and answer questions. Unless someone asked a question in the main thread, someone else answered in the secondary thread, and then the person put a link to the answer in the original thread…well, that’s a lot of steps for completely non-spoilery tiny crap. This time make it clear that it’s not a supplemental thread, but a competing one. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1265 "2011-07-01T13:40:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Considering that absolutely 100% of the book readers kept the BIG spoiler from this past season a secret (seriously, I don’t think anyone even dropped anything more specific than a VERY general “no one’s safe” in relation to Ned), I think the sheer amount of whining that’s gone on about quasi-spoilers is pure wankery. It’s complete wankery. You and I both did dances to respond to Ascenray without posting anything that resembled a spoiler, and then went out of our way to say that the things that we posted weren’t spoilers…and we got shit on because of it. It’s an interesting topic of discussion, and it would have totally died if someone who was part of the ASOIAF fan base before the show hadn’t responded, but they would rather not have the conversation. I wonder if it would be a spoiler to post that I don’t think Martin plans to ever resolve several of those questions? Because I don’t think he does. Jon’s parentage maybe gets resolved (ok probably), but I think all the relationship stuff, and the subjective views of Rhaegar and what not, those are all going to stay gray. That’s how the story works, stuff isn’t just black and white and a lot of things are subjective. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1266 "2011-07-01T13:44:13Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I wonder if it would be a spoiler to post that I don’t think Martin plans to ever resolve several of those questions? Because I don’t think he does. Jon’s parentage maybe gets resolved (ok probably), but I think all the relationship stuff, and the subjective views of Rhaegar and what not, those are all going to stay gray. Eh, you’ve already raped their minds so why not? But why bother giving them the answers that half of them have already looked up and are just pretending to not know? Anyway, I think it has resolved, and unless Lord Swampfort whips out a DVD of The Courtship of Lyanna for Bran and Rickon I don’t think it could possibly be any clearer as to what “actually” happened. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1267 "2011-07-01T13:46:03Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Eh, you’ve already raped their minds so why not? But why bother giving them the answers that half of them have already looked up and are just pretending to not know? > > Anyway, I think it has resolved, and unless Lord Swampfort whips out a DVD of The Courtship of Lyanna for Bran and Rickon I don’t think it could possibly be any clearer as to what “actually” happened. > > -Joe Oh sure, but that’s what I mean. It’s strongly implied but it isn’t spelled out so we don’t really know, and there have been other things that were strongly implied that turned out to not be true at all. And it doesn’t matter even a little bit. It’s interesting background, but that’s it. It isn’t the story. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1268 "2011-07-01T13:50:21Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > So, when season two rolls around does anyone else think there should be an “Episode thread for the non-paranoid”? > > I’m sorry, but the bitching in the episode threads is driving me nuts. “BTW, don’t get too attached to Ned or Drogo, lulz!” is a spoiler. So is “We know for a fact that Mikken can’t swim in a bucket” as is “Robb is so going to regret making his deal with the Freys the next time he sees him.” > > However, I can’t be the only one who finds it really obnoxious at the level of bitching that comes from statements as “I thought the Sky Cell would be more sloped”. > > -Joe I’m scared to post in the episode threads ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1269 "2011-07-01T13:55:44Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I’m scared to post in the episode threads I’m not going to bother anymore. Personally, I think it’s not worth anyone answering any questions in that thread. I’ve got two sets of stories in my head and I can’t tell you for sure at what point the Martells were first mentioned. I just know they’re there and they’re from Dorne and they’ll eventually be part of the story. At what point did I pass into spoiler territory? If I were to post the words of all the major families, some of them would be spoilers and some of them wouldn’t. It’s completely ridiculous. I’ll stick to the thread where you can say “In the book Tyrion is pretty repulsive with mismatched eyes and random patches of wiry hair” without it being bitched about for a dozen posts. I do hope we get to see the Bear song. I almost always skip over the songs and poems in books, but the Bear! With Hair! song is hilarious. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1270 "2011-07-01T18:04:26Z")
First off, I want to say I’m very much in favor of a “readers of the books episode threads” for season 2. Dear GOD the current “non-spoiler” ones are an obnoxious pit of whiny brats. Secondly, I just finished re-reading (re-listening, actually!) A Feast for Crows in preparation for ADWD (yay, I can’t wait!!) and I have to ask… does anyone have any idea what the hell Biter IS? Brienne’s description of him during that final battle is entirely monstrous and crazy, and surely not all of that was due to pain. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1271 "2011-07-01T18:17:35Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > Secondly, I just finished re-reading (re-listening, actually!) A Feast for Crows in preparation for ADWD (yay, I can’t wait!!) and I have to ask… does anyone have any idea what the hell Biter IS? Brienne’s description of him during that final battle is entirely monstrous and crazy, and surely not all of that was due to pain. Hannibal Lecter’s evil twin on steroids? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1272 "2011-07-01T18:34:32Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > First off, I want to say I’m very much in favor of a “readers of the books episode threads” for season 2. Dear GOD the current “non-spoiler” ones are an obnoxious pit of whiny brats. > > Secondly, I just finished re-reading (re-listening, actually!) A Feast for Crows in preparation for ADWD (yay, I can’t wait!!) and I have to ask… does anyone have any idea what the hell Biter IS? Brienne’s description of him during that final battle is entirely monstrous and crazy, and surely not all of that was due to pain. Well, great. Here I am, two-thirds of the way through **AFfC** , and now it’s been SPOILED for me. GAH!! Totally kidding, by the way. Although I am two-thirds of the way through **Crows**. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1273 "2011-07-01T18:55:47Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > First off, I want to say I’m very much in favor of a “readers of the books episode threads” for season 2. Dear GOD the current “non-spoiler” ones are an obnoxious pit of whiny brats. > > Secondly, I just finished re-reading (re-listening, actually!) A Feast for Crows in preparation for ADWD (yay, I can’t wait!!) and I have to ask… does anyone have any idea what the hell Biter IS? Brienne’s description of him during that final battle is entirely monstrous and crazy, and surely not all of that was due to pain. I think Biter is just a big psychopath who filed his teeth to points. I do not think he is supernatural or anything. ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1274 "2011-07-01T19:06:22Z")
Agree. Biter is just a viscous psychopath. The attack on Brienne was just brutal to read. On a different note. I’ve started re-reading the series now starting with CoK. I’m at the part where Arya is still hiding out at Harrenhal with Jaqen’s offer to assassinate 3 people to repay his debt. At that point both Tywin Lannister and The Mountain are in the castle. What a colossal lost opportunity. I know she is a kid and I know that how both of those characters actually meet their end are more poetic but still… ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1275 "2011-07-01T19:12:43Z")
> [@JCorre](#): > > I know she is a kid and I know that how both of those characters actually meet their end are more poetic but still… To be fair, she eventually realizes how stupid she’s been with it. Too late to do any good, of course. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1276 "2011-07-01T19:27:43Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I think Biter is just a big psychopath who filed his teeth to points. I do not think he is supernatural or anything. _Biter’s mouth opened, impossibly wide. She saw his teeth, yellow and crooked, filed into points._ [snip] _Biter threw back his head and opened his mouth again, howling, and stuck his tongue out at her. It was sharply pointed, dripping blood, longer than any tongue should be. Sliding from his mouth, out and out and out, red and wet and glistening, it made a hideous sight, obscene. His tongue is a foot long, Brienne thought, just before darkness took her. Why, it looks almost like a sword._ I dunno. That sounds pretty freaking inhuman. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1277 "2011-07-01T19:34:13Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > _Biter’s mouth opened, impossibly wide. She saw his teeth, yellow and crooked, filed into points._ > > [snip] > > _Biter threw back his head and opened his mouth again, howling, and stuck his tongue out at her. It was sharply pointed, dripping blood, longer than any tongue should be. Sliding from his mouth, out and out and out, red and wet and glistening, it made a hideous sight, obscene. His tongue is a foot long, Brienne thought, just before darkness took her. Why, it looks almost like a sword._ > > I dunno. That sounds pretty freaking inhuman. Or Gene Simmons. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1278 "2011-07-01T19:35:32Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > _Biter’s mouth opened, impossibly wide. She saw his teeth, yellow and crooked, filed into points._ > > [snip] > > _Biter threw back his head and opened his mouth again, howling, and stuck his tongue out at her. It was sharply pointed, dripping blood, longer than any tongue should be. Sliding from his mouth, out and out and out, red and wet and glistening, it made a hideous sight, obscene. **His tongue is a foot long, Brienne thought, just before darkness took her. Why, it looks almost like a sword**._ > > I dunno. That sounds pretty freaking inhuman. Bolding mine. Wasn’t there an actual sword coming through the back of his head and out his mouth at that time? ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1279 "2011-07-01T19:38:53Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Bolding mine. Wasn’t there an actual sword coming through the back of his head and out his mouth at that time? Yep. What she saw was Biter getting skewered. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377/1280 "2011-07-01T19:43:11Z")
Missed the edit window… > [@](#): > > “Biter. Is he dead?”… > “He’s dead. Gendry shoved a spearpoint through the back of his neck…" So yeah, that explains the sword-like, foot-long tongue. The rest is pure psychopath. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377.md?page=63) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-omnibus-discussion-thread-based-on-knowledge-of-books-open-spoilers/579377.md?page=65)