I’d always assumed he’d been knighted, but checking the Wiki I see he refused knighthood. Still, Sandor is his proper name, which I generally prefer to a nickname.
No, it was just Arya. All this conspiracy theory stuff is nonsense.
Right, he shared nothing in common with Meribald. The hints that the hound was alive came in the form of a small monastery or somesuch - Meribald never interacted with the hound. I think people just anticipated it might be him since the episode title was “The Broken Man”, or maybe that their parts would get blended together - and they kind of did - his speech of regret was vaguely similar to what Meribald spoke of.
I also think that if that was really Arya the Waif stabbed, and it wasn’t part of some deliberate plot on Arya’s part, that’s pretty bad writing for the reasons mentioned. She acted nothing like Arya would’ve acted. So I certainly hope the scene shouldn’t be taken at face value and there’s some sort of twist, or it’s really dumb. I’m kind of surprised that everyone seems to be saying, essentially, “oh no, it’s clearly just really dumb, thinking there’s some sort of twist is ridiculous”
I, for one, like this theory.
It bugged me that the end of E6 had Arya hiding in a dark corner somewhere apparently waiting for the Waif to show up and intending to fight her in the dark; and then the next time we see Arya she is walking care-free through the city in broad daylight.
The Arya-who-was-stabbed-was-really-Jaqen scenario would resolve that inconsistency.
We’ll see in a few days.
It’s more than that though, he HATES Knights because of the hypocrisy of the title implying chivalrous behavior and knighted men like his brother getting away with whatever they want too. It’s a significant part of his character.
I agree that the transition was strange, since I did also expect her to fight Waif in the dark (and the payoff of all the blindness training). I just don’t think any of these alternative theories make sense either.
Yeah, true. I’ll make sure never to say Ser to his face. 
By the way, the guy we saw leading the Bw/oB group was Lem Lemoncloak (confirmed by the actor), so it does look like LSH is coming up shortly.
I’m hoping it’s because something truly horrific is about to happen to Ramsay. It’s been a while (for us) since he did something vicious, and they wanted to give the audience a contemporary reminder of how awful he is so we would see it in the right light.
[quote=“Snarky_Kong, post:177, topic:753058”]
Are you sure about this? Rhaegar died before Aerys, so he was never king. You’re saying the grandson of the king is first in line before the king’s own son, assuming the grandson comes from the first born?
Nope. William is second in line for the English Throne, then George, then Charlotte, then Harry, only then does it snake back up to poor Andrew. . .I don’t think he minds though.
ETA: Sorry, I see now that this was already resolved.
Or the three-eyed crow has warged from one body to the next for a thousand years, most recently taking that of Bloodraven. Wasn’t there something early on about his having changed personality? At the time I thought it was explained by what six-skins said; people take on the personalities of their animals, and cats and birds can make the person selfish and crazy. If he is that old, and has been warging, then it’s really bizarre that he decided to die now. Perhaps he’s hoping he’s become strong enough that he can melt into the whole earth and the trees and still not be completely diluted by it?
OK, here’s another theory: what if Ashara Dane’s baby was Brandon’s? Howland told his kids that she danced with Ned, who seemed to be in love with her, but only after Brandon spoke to each of them.
What if Brandon had found out he was promised to Catelyn, but had wanted to marry Ashara because he’d gotten her pregnant? As the eldest, he’d have been stuck if his Dad promised him before he got up the gonads to explain about Ashara.
And what if Ned then agreed to marry Ashara, accepting the child as his blood, and possibly having been already in love with her? Then Ned had to go back and tell her that Brandon was gone, and he had to marry Catelyn in his place. So she was doubly thrown over?
Then she gives birth to Jon, and Ned loves him because he is the last piece of two of his favorite people - his brother and his intended,beloved bride.
Didn’t Ashara have purple eyes? Which pretty much makes her Targ, yes?
Or what if neither Brandon nor Ashara died? Maybe they ran away together and are living on the God’s eye? Brandon strangled himself trying to save his Dad. Not that hard to imagine him passing out, reviving, and being spirited out through the back passages so the Mad king wouldn’t keep hunting him . . .
I’ve refused to allow myself hope that we’ll see her, and look forward to a happy surprise. It certainly would fit in with the nasty tone the BWB has taken in Broken Man Massacre.
Here’s MY crazy theory:
I’m predicting Cersei goes out in a suicide mission this ep. They discover Loras long dead in his cell…and then burn the Church down to the ground via wildfire. Dying before Tommen does is the only way to break the curse…of course it doesn’t work out.
Jamie gets the news and heads north.
The Queen of Thorns said it all last ep. She has nothing left except one Mountain and Qyburn. All season she’s acted broken. Narratively she’s almost done. What has she got left but to try and prevent the Prophecy?
I realize this would invalidate Clegane Bowl but feel like it’s the stronger move.
Edit: Crazier theory…Arya dies and truly becomes no one by jumping into Nymeria.
I dunno. At this point, I think Cersei is the most interesting villain. Ramsey and Euron are just too cartoony. I’d rather she stay alive and maybe even get herself out of this mess before the endgame happens.
Also since it doesn’t look like Jamie is going to be freed from her “book-wise”…on the contrary he seems more attached to her than ever…the only way to free him would be to kill her.
I think Arya WAS being tested. She passed, the waif failed. " . . . a girl had many talents." He doesn’t say which. Although, the “Don’t let her suffer” part is harder to integrate. . .
Hmmmmnnn.
A Doper knows to spell the King’s uncle’s name “Jaime.”
Interesting theory, except Ashara’s child was a stillborn girl according to Ser Barristan.
Or was she…?
I think our current Davis is really Mance/Rhaegar
Nearly thought we were going to see Lady Stoneheart.
Zero mention by the brotherhood guys so i imagine she is off the table now.