Game of Thrones 6.9 "The Battle of the Bastards" (spoiler alert)

[NewJeffCT]

second to last episode tonight - supposed to be a full 60 minutes. Usually we get huge events in episode 9 each season.

HBO hasn't released an official description of the episode. The only thing out there is rather vague: Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.

[Solly Mack]

1. Little over 12 hours to go.

[NewJeffCT]

2. yes

counting down the time

[Solly Mack]

4. I've been counting down the time since last Sunday.

[NewJeffCT]

3. a recap of previous episode 9s

and, didn't realize that this may be the last episode 9 ever if Season 7 is 7 episodes and Season 8 is 6...

http://watchersonthewall.com/looking-forward-game-thrones-ep-609-battle-epic-9s/#more-69285

[NewJeffCT]

5. some articles from the past week

the most powerful in Westeros.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilycanal/2016/06/19/game-of-thrones-the-most-powerful-people-in-westeros-revisited/#5b146ca343af

predictions for the Battle:
http://www.vox.com/2016/6/18/11965598/game-of-thrones-battle-of-the-bastards-predictions

now, this would be crazy if it were true...
http://www.wired.com/2016/06/crazy-game-thrones-theory-ill-bet-right/

more on tonight's episode:
http://www.idigitaltimes.com/game-thrones-season-6-battle-winterfell-rickons-big-day-541157

[NewJeffCT]

6. Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth) previews the battle

nice words about Kit Harington, too.

http://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/19/liam-cunningham-previews-the-battle-of-the-bastards/

[NewJeffCT]

7. Dame Patsy's review of the last episode

http://watchersonthewall.com/brush-episode-9-dame-pastys-recap-review-no-one/

[NewJeffCT]

8. and, the best of Twitter and Game of Thrones last week

http://watchersonthewall.com/tweet-one/

[NewJeffCT]

9. I'll vote "no" on this one

http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2016/06/19/why-game-of-thrones-should-let-ramsay-bolton-survive-the-battle-of-the-bastards/#33c61ff178d6

[redwitch]

80. Me too!

Evil must die!

[NewJeffCT]

10. 4 hours to go - a few more articles

Looks like Maisie Williams rules the internets..
http://www.forbes.com/sites/hnewman/2016/06/19/game-of-thrones-arya-stark-rules-social-media-after-tweet-by-maisie-williams/#796a14f01d3a

historical precedents for the Wildings.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2016/06/19/the-use-of-barbarian-soldiers-in-game-of-thrones-and-the-roman-empire/#7f1b0a97ea3d

[intrepidity]

11. While you're waiting, here's something to entertain you

https://www.buzzfeed.com/sabrinabarr/32-times-the-game-of-thrones-cast-melted-our-hea-1qpyv?utm_term=.klwpd05z8#.goJDmNJwV

32 Times The “Game Of Thrones” Cast Friendships Were Too Much To Handle

[NewJeffCT]

12. they all clean up well

not that Sophie Turner is chopped liver on the show...

[me b zola]

149. Is that Oberyn in the top photo?

[intrepidity]

150. Yes, with The Mountain n/t

[NewJeffCT]

13. Love this picture

[NewJeffCT]

14. Less than 30 minutes to go

should be exciting.

I'm thinking those burning Xs on the field are Rickon, Shaggy Dog and Osha?

[NewJeffCT]

15. here we go

we fight with the army we have - Jon Snow, paraphrasing Donald Rumsfeld

[NewJeffCT]

16. looks like it won't be 100% Winterfell

Meereen/Dany and the Greyjoys

[Solly Mack]

17. Battles and sieges, sieges and battles.

[NewJeffCT]

18. Meereen under siege

Dany's plan isn't very detailed.

[Solly Mack]

19. But it is like her father

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Is it my imagination or is Dany's braids look more like dragon scales?

[Solly Mack]

21. Yeah..go ahead..try to kill those things. I dare you.

[Solly Mack]

22. Will Tyrion ride tonight?

[NewJeffCT]

24. the other dragons are finally in the field

of battle

[Solly Mack]

26. She needs those ships....but more are coming.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. Major fan satisfaction with those dragons.

Together again!

[Solly Mack]

25. She did warn them.

[NewJeffCT]

28. Dracarys!

that was great

[Solly Mack]

30. It was

[Solly Mack]

27. Ha!

[Solly Mack]

29. Mercy doesn't always taste sweet.

[Baitball Blogger]

31. Bolton: Another fool who comes in asking for a surrender.

[NewJeffCT]

32. Back to Winterfell

Sansa confronting Bolton

[Solly Mack]

33. I despise that fucker and want him to die a prolonged painful death.

[Solly Mack]

34. Ramsay is a coward and Jon will prove it either way.

[NewJeffCT]

35. yes

but, he has 6,000 men to 2,000 and a giant

[Solly Mack]

38. True - but he is still a coward.

[Solly Mack]

36. They're all looking at Ramsay and seeing the same thing - a coward that talks too much

as all cowards do.

[NewJeffCT]

37. Ramsay Bolton really is a dick

and, I'm not usually one to use a term like that

[RandySF]

54. But have you noticed

the worst villains are often portrayed by the nicest real-life people you'll ever meet.

[WolverineDG]

112. If you can, watch "Vicious"

he plays the sweetest, funniest character on that show.

[intrepidity]

175. Thanks for the heads-up

Just watched the 2 seasons of Vicious. Loved it. Ash could not be more different from Ramsey, lol.

(for any others who haven't heard of this show, it is Derek Jacobi (Last Tango Halifax, Alan) and Ian McKellen as a couple who have been together for 50 years, and Iwan Rheon (Ramsey) is their upstairs neighbor.

[Solly Mack]

39. Listen to Sansa. She's correct on Ramsay's character.

[NewJeffCT]

40. Sansa considers Rickon to be already dead

Got pretty heated with Jon

[Solly Mack]

42. She thinks it the smart move but Jon can't think that way

- battles must have a purpose and Sansa's needs aren't the emotional pull.

[Solly Mack]

41. OK. Now back to the battle plans.

[NewJeffCT]

43. Tormund bonding with Davos

interesting

[NewJeffCT]

44. Jon tells Melisandre not to bring him back

if he dies again

[Solly Mack]

45. She's far less sure of herself these days.

[NewJeffCT]

47. Yes

she is certainly not the woman she was in seasons 2-5

[Solly Mack]

50. She's about to be dead, maybe.

[Solly Mack]

46. No! Never stray away from the group.

[NewJeffCT]

49. oh geez

it's Shireen's little carving that Davos gave to her.

[Solly Mack]

48. Davos is going to be so angry,

[Solly Mack]

51. Wow. That was a quick trip over.

[NewJeffCT]

52. Yara aligns with Dany

and they may have enough ships to get home.

[me b zola]

100. That scene was on the steamy side

Loved the flirtation between Yara and Dany. Hot

[WolverineDG]

114. For a show that was so male-power centered,

this season has seen women come to the forefront of power. Dany, who's always been there, Margaery, Arya, & this season, Yara & Sansa stepping up, along with Lady Lyanna Mormont, who I would never want to meet in a dark alley.

[GaYellowDawg]

142. You have forgotten

Brienne of Tarth? Quite possibly the deadliest one-on-one warrior in the Seven Kingdoms? I wouldn't put her up against FrankenMountain, but that's about the only warrior she wouldn't take down.

Cersei has always been a dominant power in King's Landing. I mean, she set up a king to be killed and replaced him with her illegitimate son. She then guided the coronation of her other illegitimate son. How is that not powerful?

Lysa Arryn was batshit crazy but was clearly the boss in her kingdom.

Melisandre was always the power behind Stannis Baratheon.

Catelyn Stark wielded a lot of influence for quite some time before her death.

This show has generally been full of powerful female characters.

[WolverineDG]

152. In terms of being recognized as rulers in their own right

as opposed to having power as a derivative of a male spouse or relative.

Lysa Arryn was only "the boss" because she was the regent for her dingbat son, Robin. She was not ruling on her own. Cersei, as it was recently pointed out to her, was not a Queen Regnant, but Queen Consort & later, Queen Mother. Yes, they were powerful women in powerful positions, but Lysa's power would have lapsed once Robin became of age, & Cersei overplayed her hand & overstayed her time as Queen.

[NewJeffCT]

164. well, if you look at historical precedents

there weren't exactly a lot of women leading England, France, the Papal States, Spain or the Holy Roman Empire in the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages.

[GaYellowDawg]

165. Recognition and power are two very different things.

Do you not remember the scene where Cersei had another character surrounded by the King's Guard and told him that if she gave the order to kill, that he was dead, and that was power? She's had a tremendous amount of power for most of the series.

One does not have to have a title to have power.

[WolverineDG]

166. Yes she does

but if Tommen dies, she loses it. Maybe not all at once, but she does & as we saw two weeks ago, already has. If she was still as powerful as she thinks she is, would the High Sparrow have been able to get Tommen to ban trial by combat?

[GaYellowDawg]

168. I can see where you're coming from

And I'm thinking I'm probably doing some unnecessary quibbling. So instead of nitpicking, consider me signed on to your point: it's about damn time in this show that more women are powerful in and of themselves rather than as adjuncts to men.

[me b zola]

147. I absolutely love how the show has so many powerful women!

...but I have quite the girl crush on Yara who loves women with no apologies ~and swagger, don't forget Yara's swagger. Yummy

[Solly Mack]

53. OK. Dany. That might work. Maybe. To a point. We'll see.

[Solly Mack]

55. If Theon made it there already...might not Arya be close to home by now then?

[Solly Mack]

56. Don't be stupid Jon

[Solly Mack]

57. Don't be stupid Jon

[herding cats]

59. He's being stupid.

[Solly Mack]

63. Sadly....but it's on now.

[Solly Mack]

58. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Understandable......but stupid.

[NewJeffCT]

62. it was close, though

Jon is going to charge by himself.

[Solly Mack]

64. It was supposed to be close. Half a field to make up to catch up with Jon

[Solly Mack]

60. Don't be more stupid Jon.

[Baitball Blogger]

61. Ah, poor Rickon.

Ramsay is toying with him. Must be a good shot to have such confidence.

Yup. There it goes.

[WolverineDG]

115. Spoiler

no one taught him to zig-zag.

[Solly Mack]

65. To her credit, Sansa did warn Jon. However it ends, the opening gambit was a smart tactical move.

[herding cats]

66. We all saw it coming but Jon did not know Ramsey and his ways.

[Baitball Blogger]

67. Ramsay is such a coward.

Trying to keep his distance with his archers, killing his own men in the process.

[Solly Mack]

68. The other Houses must now change sides. (those with Bolton)

[NewJeffCT]

69. Ramsay killing his own men

that's going to come back to haunt him

[FarPoint]

73. I'm sliding off the couch!

I'm forgetting to breathe.... Damn..this is intense!

[Baitball Blogger]

70. Holy shite.

It's going to turn into a slaughter.

[NewJeffCT]

71. spear wall

is going to crush the wildings

[Solly Mack]

72. :)

I have faith because I'm an idiot.

[NewJeffCT]

79. the Knights of the Vale

ride in to the rescue

[Solly Mack]

82. I still hate Littlefinger

[Solly Mack]

74. I hate that fucking refrain

[Solly Mack]

75. Rick Grimes!!

[Baitball Blogger]

76. The Crows to the rescue!

[Baitball Blogger]

78. So, how did Sansa do it?

How did she get the crows to get involved?

[NewJeffCT]

94. No, those are the Knights of the Vale

Lysa Arryn's knights - Littlefinger had them under his command. That was the letter Sansa wrote a few episodes ago.

[Baitball Blogger]

96. Ah. Got it.

[Solly Mack]

81. lolololololololol

Jon isn't a coward

[Solly Mack]

83. Davos is going to kill the red lady.....unless Jon stops him.

[Baitball Blogger]

84. Direwolves Rulz!

[Solly Mack]

86. I always thought so.

and the Direwolf -Dragon (Fire and Ice) combo ain't so bad either.

[Solly Mack]

85. No...kill the piece of shit.

[bettyellen]

88. She's going to let the dogs out!

[Solly Mack]

91. Yes, and it's a beautiful and fitting sight to behold.

[bettyellen]

97. As are you and Jeff here on a Sunday night!

[Solly Mack]

102. Awwww...and you!

[bettyellen]

106. And the ratfuckers will be routed like Bolton's army!

[WolverineDG]

117. It was gross

but I'm so glad they showed us the first bite. That felt so gooooood.

[Solly Mack]

119. Well, yeah. A bit sick but not as sick as he deserved.

[WolverineDG]

121. True

I was hoping for a Ghost appearance, but I guess they're spending the CGI budget on dragons & battle scenes.

[Solly Mack]

124. A Direwolf eating Ramsay would have been much better.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

132. I was thinking they might flay him.

But dogs worked just fine. A dire wolf would have been better.

[GaYellowDawg]

139. It's too bad

they couldn't have had the Red Witch bring him back a few more times for a few more meals.

[Solly Mack]

140. No kidding! He needed to die a few deaths.

[FarPoint]

99. Hahahaha

Yes!!!!!

[Solly Mack]

87. I'm giggling. Eat, puppy. Eat.

[Baitball Blogger]

90. My dog is loving this scene.

Even growling her approval.

[NewJeffCT]

89. Ramsay to be eaten by his dogs

and, Sansa coldly watches it.

[Baitball Blogger]

92. How are they going to wrap this all up in one more show?

[NewJeffCT]

105. No clue, but it will be the longest episode to date - 69 minutes

69 minutes is more running time than a 90 minute TV show with commercials

My guesses:

we get the next trial in King's Landing Tyrion set them up with the wildfire mention to Dany tonight,and what Qyburn told Cersei last episode. I think Cersei's going to burn the Sept of Baelor down, but mistakenly catch Tommen in the fire instead of the High Sparrow. (or, maybe both die?)

Then, we get resolution in the North. Sansa rebuffs LF, but manages to keep the Knights of the Vale on her side? Not sure how it goes down.

Lannisters & Freys at the Twins.

Dany and Tyrion set sail for Westeros.

Arya probably comes back to Westeros and meets somebody on her list?

[Solly Mack]

110. Sounds like another intense episode!

[Solly Mack]

93. I'm exhausted.

[herding cats]

101. Me, too!

Wow! What a fitting end for Ramsey.

[Solly Mack]

103. It was! Alas....over too soon.

[herding cats]

116. It was over too soon

I'm amazed at how much they packed into that hour. We got a lot of satisfaction tonight!

[Solly Mack]

118. I hope Ramsay was alive until the last bite.

[herding cats]

122. Ha! I said similar.

Even if he wasn't, he's now reduced to doggie poo. That just feels so right!

[Solly Mack]

125. Too true! Dog-Poo Bolton.

[Baitball Blogger]

95. Was it my imagination of was there chemistry between Yara and Dany?

Can definitely see them as besties.

[NewJeffCT]

98. Yes

they definitely hit it off. Though, her and Theon did look out of place there.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

151. I laughed when Yara said I'm not making demands but I'm up for anything.

Girl power!!

[Xyzse]

172. Yara became one of my faves with that one line.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

174. That whole scene was fantastic.

I watched the episode again.

We'd like you to help us murder an uncle or two who don't think a woman's fit to rule.

Reasonable.

Lol.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

104. Well that wasn't stressful at all. Lol.

I need a drink.

[Solly Mack]

107. heh! I can't wait to watch again.

[WolverineDG]

108. OMG HOW STRESSFUL WAS THAT???

This stressful:

https://twitter.com/wolverinedg/status/744714109149544448

PS. I actually had the tines braided before the outer ones broke off.....

[Baitball Blogger]

126. And you did it with your mind!!!

[NewJeffCT]

109. some GIF recap of Ramsay's end

http://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/19/ramsay-bolton-is-killed-by-sansa-video/

[NewJeffCT]

111. Now, when Jon was in front of his men before battle

that moment really called for a Theoden of Rohan speech "Ride now - ride for ruin and world's ending!!"

?t=1m15s

[Beaverhausen]

157. "Courage Merry. Courage for our friends"

My favorite part of the whole trilogy. Love her character.

[redwitch]

113. Well that was gratifying.

I'm not at all bloodthirsty but damn. That was gratifying. I do love the Starks.

[NewJeffCT]

120. yes

it's now a time for wolves

[Solly Mack]

123. Can Benjen pass the wall? I know how it goes in the book with the based-upon character.

The show may do it differently.

Can Bran, after arriving at the wall, leave the wall?

Will the Crows send word that Bran is there? Bran is the actual heir to Winterfell.

The Houses that renewed their pledges to Jon and Sansa are pledged to House Stark and not to Sansa nor Jon.

Jon, for all the help, is the one that actually took Winterfell when he took down Ramsay. Not that Jon wants or needs Winterfell for his own. He's got another future.

I worry Sansa will try to bully Jon either on her own or with Littlefinger's urging. I hate Littlefinger.

I'm still not a Sansa fan. Well, she's my least favorite Stark, behind even the dead ones, to include the Direwolves, both living and dead. Though certainly above Catelyn Tully Stark.

I'm sorry for all she has gone through but , well....she'll have to prove herself more to me first.

Just pondering possible avenues of going forward.

[Solly Mack]

127. Watching again.

[Solly Mack]

128. No one but Dany seems to know the Dothraki are there. Unless she told Tyrion.

[Solly Mack]

129. Daenerys goes first into battle - much like Jon.

[Solly Mack]

130. I hate the way they brought Rickon back only to die.

Seems too neatly abrupt, and not just a case of showing how depraved Ramsay is or how anyone can die.

It could have been fleshed out more.

[Solly Mack]

131. Sansa rides away before Ramsay makes the claim that his dogs haven't eaten in 7 days.

I guess we are to take it that Jon or someone mentioned it to her?

Davos explains why the gap between the armies must be covered by the Boltons.

Sansa is arguing they should have waited until they have a larger force, yet she never told anyone she wrote to the Vale.

Why should Jon trust her counsel when she won't confide in him?

Also, Jon should never assume a woman is without strength. Not even Sansa.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

134. Yep.

A "hold up a few minutes I got some guys coming" might have been nice.

[Solly Mack]

135. She has her own agenda and Jon would be wise to be take her hand of kinship with caution.

[Solly Mack]

133. Poor Rickon

[Solly Mack]

136. Wonder how many in House Mormont survived?

[Solly Mack]

137. Poor Wun-Wun.

The last of the giants.

Last of all myth?

[NewJeffCT]

143. I think he was in the books

not sure if they mentioned that in the show.

[Solly Mack]

138. I don't trust Sansa. She's still too much under the influence of Littlefinger.

Still too much a pawn.

[NewJeffCT]

144. you're right

she's entering the game, but she's yet to show how much of a player she is.

[Solly Mack]

145. Littlefinger has already spoken against Jon. Sansa, for all her words of kinship, is still

very much her mother's daughter. Her mother thought Littlefinger manageable too. Sansa is hoping Robin still dolts on her. (maybe)

No one has mentioned that the Stark line died out tonight. (maybe not in the books) It has already been mentioned that Bran will never father children.

I've been too peeved about the unceremonious way in which it was done - Rickon gone for a long time,comes back out of the blue, then dies abruptly. Stark line - over. Unless Bran can father children. Or.....(we'll see)

Sansa is not the heir to Winterfell. Not as long as Bran is alive. Legs or no legs, he is the rightful heir.

Course, the entirety of Westeros could become a wasteland of white walkers. Everyone fighting the wrong fight out of their own petty and small concerns, gaining small victories only to lose the one that truly matters.

I dunno. lol

[NewJeffCT]

146. Well, it's possible the Stark line will continue

Daenerys can make him Jon Stark, or maybe the North can first split off from the 7 Kingdoms and name him Jon Stark, King of the North. If LF can be somehow neutralized, having what remains of the Northmen, combined with the Knights of the Vale make for a powerful army. Will Jamie's force and the Freys be able to stop them? Will we see Walder Frey get his comeuppance in episode 10? (the previews did have Walder Frey in it...)

[Solly Mack]

154. If he's a Targaryen why would he keep the name Stark?

Is it because of the dragons that it is assumed that Daenerys will sit on the throne one day?

The various myths and dreams floating about?

GRRM seems to be heading in that direction?

Fans want it?

[NewJeffCT]

156. Bran will know he's a Targaryen

will that message get back to Jon, or anybody else of authority?

[Solly Mack]

158. Howland Reed knows. Probably not.

But Bran will need bodies to fight at the wall, yes?

Or will the White Walkers and the Night King suddenly become a non-threat?

[NewJeffCT]

159. Would Martin do that?

build up the White Walkers as this overwhelming threat, only to pull the rug out from under us...

And, while Howland Reed knows, he's such a minor player in The Game of Thrones that would anybody listen if he pronounced that Jon Snow is the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar? (he still has not appeared in the "present" time in the books)

[Solly Mack]

160. It would be madness to do that.

So Bran makes it to the Wall, and maybe Jon returns. He knows the real threat beyond the wall. The Free Folk would want to check on the ones left behind. Littlefinger will be his usual self. Can't trust Sansa.

What do you think the other northern houses (that did not help Jon and Sansa) will do now?

Bend the knee? Try to escape south?

The Red Keep will probably know that Winterfell has been retaken by Sunday's finale.

With the Vale in play, the war begins again in a major way.

The Keep can't just play it off as the North being the North.

As long as we are wiping out family lines - I'm hoping all the Freys, and all the Lannisters are wiped out.

[NewJeffCT]

161. I wonder if Arya

will play a role in the season finale?

No idea about the rest of the North - no mention of the Manderlys on the show, who are the wealthiest northern house, and arguably the 2nd most powerful after the Starks in their prime.

[Solly Mack]

163. She could be back in Westeros by then. Making her way North.

I know, the lack of the Manderlys is somewhat troubling. Maybe in the end, (out of the books) they don't make a difference to where the story is headed?

Rickon obviously didn't. If the Starks are serving a moral to a story, then all I'm getting from it is - don't have integrity.

The show will cut and slash stories that might otherwise be pertinent to the books.

[PoliticAverse]

153. I don't trust Sansa. She's still too stupid. n/t

[Solly Mack]

155. I often find myself saying the same thing while watching (and reading)

[MosheFeingold]

177. No

Littlefinger is under the influence of Sansa.

[Islandurp]

141. gahh that was fucking awesome!

I have to go to work in 4 hours and I can't sleep. Too god damn hyped shit.

[me b zola]

148. Battle of the Bastards on fathers day is perfect!

Wowza whatta show! I will be rewatching today

[Oneironaut]

162. I have to question the wisdom of anyone who tries to take on the "Mother of Dragons" with wooden

ships. Derp

At least the dragons are all free now. We were all waiting for it to happen.

[WolverineDG]

167. I was saying all week that Tyrion & co were being idiots

for forgetting they had 2 dragons in the basement, but everyone else said "no, they're free & gone."

I cheered when I saw them bust out of dragon jail.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

170. Having 2 dragons is like having 2 cats.

I don't think they'd obey Tyrion's commands. I don't think Tyrion could aim their fire.

[WolverineDG]

171. he could at least have let them out

but, I like what happened in the end, so I guess it's a wash.

[NewJeffCT]

169. well, Daenerys was gone

and, they possibly thought the dragons weren't controllable. And, to be honest, if those ships had concentrated their fire at one dragon at a time, they could have injured/killed at least one of them.

[jakeXT]

173. Jon:"Sansa, why did you make all my friends get fake ids,´... if you were bringing the beer anyway?"

[NewJeffCT]

176. I haven't had a chance to watch After the Thrones

this week, but I don't think it was certain that Sansa knew that Littlefinger would show up?