Calling all Game of Thrones Fans!

aukeev

@Avrilmai @heml Yes to World Market - we found some at a World Market in Texas when visiting family over Christmas. I haven't been back to one since then, though. 

Avrilmai

@heml yes, that is where we found it a few years ago, maybe I should check it out and see if I can find some/surprise DH for the party. 

heml

ONE WEEK COUNTDOWN! Aaaaahhhhh. I’m so excited. 

suzycupcake

My fandom is that it needs to hurry up and get here so we can all watch the last season, be sad the they are ending one of the best shows ever, and then move on to the next one. Slow torture deaths aren't my cup of tea....IJS

Arya is my fave. I personally hope she ends up on the iron throne. 

cato99

A friend has an interesting prediction for Cersei, that the valonqar (little brother) destined to kill her is the baby she’s currently carrying from Jamie. That she’ll die in childbirth and in that situation will realize Tyrion was not ultimately responsible for their mother’s death in the same circumstances, and she will forgive him. But I feel like that’s less likely than Jamie appearing to kill her but it really is Arya. 

This timing is awkward for me personally, because during the tv-addled post-partum period with DD, I vowed that I would save a full GoT rewatch for the next baby’s postpartum period, so I’ve been holding off on rewatching—so I’m jealous of all the perfectly-timed rewatches going on! So I’ll watch this final season probably not remembering stuff perfectly, and then do a full satisfying S1-S8 rewatch when I’m up at all hours with this baby. 

Every so often there are articles/listicles with shows to sort of scratch the GoT itch and in that vein I’ve really enjoyed The Last Kingdom on Netflix. It’s more explicitly historical and not as over the top, set in the 900s at the birth of England, with a lot of conflicts with the Vikings/Danes. I just finished season 3 tonight so I wanted to let you know! Season 1 is kinda meh, season 2 picks up in terms of investment in the characters, and I found season 3 to be pretty well written and suspenseful. 

suzycupcake

@cato99 The Last Kingdom is good. You might really enjoy Vikings, sooooooo good! I'm glad that you said that about S3 of LK. We will keep watching. 

MamaK225

@suzycupcake - I second Vikings. So good (even if I have kind of fallen off as things became more political and less slash-y/take-y ). Very bingeable.

Lotus_2008

Did anyone else catch Kit Harington on SNL this weekend? I watched a couple of the sketches and thought he did pretty well. His monologue was hilarious! 

cato99

@suzycupcake @MamaK225 yes I love Vikings too! That and The Last Kingdom have really similar vibes!

@Lotus_2008 I didn't see the actual episode but the promo running earlier in the week with Leslie Jones acting out all her weird GoT fantasies with a reluctant Kit Harington was fantastic!

MamaK225

Now I'm going to have to YouTube this when I get home ...

heml

@Lotus_2008 We watched it! Kit’s monologue and the GOT spinoffs were my favs 

Twinkiedoll

@olivemomma  Just going to leave this here:

https://hip2save.com/2019/04/09/game-of-thrones-oreo-cookies-available-at-walmart/

MamaK225

YOU GUYS! I heard the CRAZIEST theory last night. Like. I. Can't. Even.

Theory: Jaime & Cersei are actually the Mad King's children. This comes from the rumors that Joanna had been with Aerys the night of Jaehaerys's coronation and had a few trysts with him later when he was on the Iron Throne. It is further inferred because of how often Jaime & Cersei's beauty is discussed, as well as their blonde hair, etc. Plus, there is a long history of twins in the Targaryen dynasty ... and disgustingly-close familial incest. And Aerys (despite the really strained relationship with Tywin) sent gifts for Jaime & Cersei of "their weight in gold" on their name day - kind of odd, right? An additional inference is that means that Tyrion is actually Tywin's, not the 3rd Targaryen. And don't forget, Cersei carried out her brutal version of vengeance using wildfire - which was Aerys' favorite method of execution. IF this wild theory is true, then I'm 100% with Arya posing as Jaime - the Kingslayer (given Cersei is pregnant with a son, who would-be King if born) - to kill Cersei ... and then he'll ride the 3rd dragon.

heml

@MamaK225 That theory is crazy but not outside of the realm of possibilities. Wonder if Gilly/Samwell will uncover this?

aukeev

@MamaK225 Whoa. I had forgotten about Aerys sending gifts for their nameday. That would certainly make things interesting.

Lotus_2008

@MamaK225 I've never heard that before! It would definitely give Jamie's killing of the Mad King another dimension. 

I thought of another theory about Jamie this morning. In a past episode he said he wanted to die in the arms of the woman he loves. I think Jamie will have a pivotal role in killing the Night's King, but will be mortally wounded in the process. His death scene will mirror the bathtub scene with Brienne and he will die in her arms. She'll call him "Jamie" but he will tell her to call him "Kingslayer," thus embracing the title and role he hated for so many years. 

olivemomma

@MamaK225 interesting! I have also never heard that one but it’s so intriguing. I think it’s safe to say there is definitely a good chance at least some of those Lannister babies are Targaryen. 

@Lotus_2008 oh man that’s a good one too! I seriously cannot wait to see what happens!

MamaK225

I really like your theory, too, @Lotus_2008! In the past I would've said it would be Cersei's arms, but we all know she's grown beyond Jaime and will never truly love anyone (except maybe this son that's on-the-way).

olivemomma

NPRs ultimate guide to who will live and who will die (all based on speculation, not any insider info!). Not sure if I agree with it all but fun read!

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711063904/which-characters-will-lose-the-game-of-thrones-a-chronicle-of-many-deaths-foreto

Avrilmai

@MamaK225 That is a new one to me, and very interesting. 

I really just love reading/hearing all of the theories that fans have created and sometimes I wonder if George really has any idea how he wants this to all end, or if he'll just run with one of these creative fan theories. 

@heml I thought the spin-offs bit was really funny too. 

Lotus_2008

Speaking of things to eat during the premier...a bake shop by me makes homemade ice cream sandwiches. Here is a description of their GOT special: The Night King has arrived... no one is safe... “White Walker” - beyond the wall blue moon ice cream sandwiched by vanilla almond cookie and choice of rolled in frost bite coconut or left plain. 
And the pic:

olivemomma

Okay serious question DH and I were discussing last night - will George ever actually release the next book?? Let alone finish the series?? I don’t think he will! I have read the books - I honestly enjoy the show more but it has definitely deviated from the books so I want to see how he would end it too.

Avrilmai

@olivemomma I agree with you! I just don't think so. I think he'll get Winds of Winter out, but Dream of Spring I have almost no hope, unless he is secretly writing both and that is why it is taking so long. I know he skipped writing scripts for the series and said he declined a cameo in the finale to focus on writing, but it seems he has a lot of other projects he is working on first. I saw that post of the letter he sent to the editor/publisher when he was starting on the series, seems it was originally just a trilogy and he said something about not working well with an outline. Made me think he is literally making it up as he goes along. (I'm not a fiction writer, so this may be the norm, but it seemed odd to me)  I'm sure (hoping) he has a basic structure, he did have to give the show runners some direction. I hope I'm wrong.

olivemomma

It’s finally here! Happy premier day ladies!!

sourlemon

Today today today! It finally came!!!!

aukeev

What did everyone think?!

heml

Bran is so creepy. 

I loved Cersei’s line about earning a queen. I’m very disappointed that her hair hasn’t grown out more. 

Arya flirting with Gendry was adorable. 

Lotus_2008

@oklahomak I really liked it! I'm glad that they got a lot of the awkward reunions out of the way and didn't drag out the whole Jon Snow parentage reveal. 

@heml Agreed about Arya and Gendry! Should be interesting to hear what Bran has to say to Jamie next week.

MollyH1987

"I'm waiting for an old friend to arrive" - Bran 

aukeev

@heml Agreed about Bran. When Jon said, "You're a man now," and Bran replied, "Almost," our whole watch party just died laughing. Such a strange kid. And yes, Arya and Gendry were perfect. 

My heart just about broke watching Sam's face learning about his dad and brother. 

Avrilmai

@MollyH1987 I loved that line. 

@heml I really liked the Arya/Gendry flirting. DH even said aloud, are they flirting. I will say I was a bit disappointed in some of the other reunions. I was expecting more, IDK, emotion? 

@oklahomak yes, poor Sam. it was so sad, but I did like his line about Bran doing, "whatever it is Bran does." 

What did you all think of the new opening sequence? I liked that it was so much more detailed in the few places that it did show. I also like a lot of the mirroring that happened with the pilot episode, and the ending with Jamie and Bran mirroring the ending of the first ep. 

olivemomma

Overall, I think they did a pretty solid job of opening up the season and bringing all of these major characters together. I enjoyed seeing a lot of them on screen for the first time together or back together from seasons long over. I think Jon riding a dragon was pretty cool and the closing shot of Bran and Jamie coming face to face was the perfect ending to mirror episode 1.

EmilyA724

I think it was a really good episode. Great mix of reunions/check-ins/set-ups, which is pretty much what you want from a season premier. Agree about Bran, he just needs to constantly remind everyone he is the 3-eyed raven, he can't even pretend to be normal.

Only things I was sad by was no Brienne and that it wasn't a longer episode

heml

@Avrilmai It seems like the opening sequence is going to show us where the white walkers are (they white tiles flipped over to look icy blue), so I really like that

suzycupcake

I was also sad there was no Brienne or a longer episode for the premiere. I thought it unbecoming of Brienne to place her feelings about her interaction with Sansa on Jon. 

With regards to Bran, we are always left feeling confused about his role in this show. What is his deal?

My favorite line was Daenerys’s reply when Sansa asked her what dragons eat. The funniest scene was Tormund’s, “I’ve always had blue eyes!”

My fave reunion was Sansa and Tyrion, especially her comment about his cleverness. Oh and is anyone else excited at the thought of everyone finding out what a badass Arya is hopefully sometime soon?

olivemomma

OH can we also discussed cersei hiring out Bron to take out Tyrion and jamie?! Id like to think his moral compass will win out.

aukeev

@suzycupcake That was an excellent exchange between Sansa and Tyrion. Though not necessarily an exchange, the look on Jamie's face upon seeing Bran was perfect. 
While Bran is painfully weird, they eased the awkwardness around him by everyone else acknowledging his weirdness.

@olivemomma YES. I don't think there's any way he'll go through with it. He loves both of them, and even though he's a sellsword, I think he realizes how horrible she is. 

MamaK225

I agree with Bron's predicament/prediction. I think he'll go up there and just hang around to see how the clash with the whitewalkers goes before he contemplates anything. If they all survive, I'm pretty sure he'll share with them about Cersei's plot (not that they weren't knowledgeable about it, deep-down) and maybe get them to unite against her and - hopefully - take her down (younger brother, anyone?).

I loooooooooooooooved Tormund's "I've always had blue eyes!" in the halls, I just love him. Also disappointed about no Brienne, but she'll have her time.

Bran. I'll just let that hang out there until I figure out how I feel about that.

Overall, I was glad that they started tying some things together and setting things up because I'm ready for some action ... it was beautiful, but a bit placid, considering we've been waiting 3,406 years for this season to begin.

Avrilmai

@olivemomma yes! I don't think Bronn will go through with it, but I did love his final words on that. (I also wonder if that is part of George's story or if it is getting Bronn out of the same city as Cersei since apparently the actors cannot be around each other. )

Cersei had the opportunity to have both of her brothers killed in the S7 finale and couldn't go through with it, makes me think she is sending someone to do it because it is "easier" for her so she won't have to witness it. 

suzycupcake

I agree @Avrilmai. It seems like she is planning to let the white walkers take a bunch of people out and we are over here going well, how is she planning to conquer them after the fact? Not to mention, it's clear where Bronn's true loyalty lies. She is extremely short sighted when her murderous side comes out.