Two meer Game of Thrones Actors Arrive in Iceland for Filming 

has officially landed in Iceland this week, with star

Kit Harington and assorted crew members turning up in the country for season 7 filming. Shooting is expected to last a couple weeks, and thanks to spoilers, we have a fair idea of what scenes may be filmed in Iceland. Today, two more cast members have been spotted. It’s a fairly big spoiler, so we’ll tuck it under a cut!

Joe Dempsie (Gendry) and Paul Kaye (Thoros of Myr) took a photo with a fan in Iceland, in a photo that surfaced today.

Big Spoiler!! Joe Dempsie (Gendry) and Paul Kaye (Thoros de Myr) are also in Iceland filming for S7! 😰

More Major Spoilers beyond this point!

Dempsie and his character, the bastard blacksmith Gendry, have been absent from

since season three when he rowed off to parts unknown. Dempsie turned up on the set of

in October during Spain filming, shooting with Liam Cunningham (Davos) and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion). Later photos showed Gendry taking off in a boat with Jon Snow, Davos, and Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen).

Back in September, we learned Kaye would be returning as Thoros, the Brotherhood without Banners’ red priest. So how does he wind up with Gendry, filming in Iceland which plays the part of the icy land beyond the Wall? Season 7 spoilers have indicated the Brotherhood will be teaming up with Jon’s crew on a dangerous mission involving wights. The actors’ arrival in Iceland is another piece of confirmation of the early spoiler reports.

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Killed by a fuckin reanimated polar bear…. LAME.

Oh no… that script leak that I thought was fake and a terrible script is actually shaping up to be true 😩😩😩

Guys, I was VERY vague about the leak stuff, so YES, you still need to cover leak spoilers. Please.

And the bitching and moaning from spoiled fans continues

OT, what do you guys think about this picture on twitter?

https://twitter.com/MagazineBrian/status/819233336950407168 He says he cannot reveal who the actor is. Some on reddit have theorized that he is

either Lino Facioli aka Robin Arryn or Harry Lloyd aka Viserys. Why would he be back, though? Could he be playing Viserys in a flashback? Or perhaps Rhaegar? It can’t be Joe Dempsie, many photos of him have already surfaced. What do you think?

Why don’t you all just wait for the actual season to air before complaining?

Hmmm, I have no idea who that could be. Smiley-face McGee? I dunno. Could be just about anybody

To me, on paper at least, being killed by a zombified giant polar bear literally sounds like one of the most awesome deaths ever in the history of the show. I can’t imagine anything half as metal. How is that lame, seriously? Back when the White Walkers attacked the Fist of the First Men at the end of season two and beginning of the third, book fans rightly bemoaned the omission of the wight bear from the books. Now they can afford it so they include something like it, but it’s “lame” because it kills a beloved secondary character, who goes out fighting bravely? Come on…

I agree. With good CGI that scene will be great.

I don’t see why he would need to hide Lino Facioli’s pic. Robin Arryn being in S7 would hardly be needed to be kept a secret. Possibilities I can think of are

Harry Lloyd or Michael Huisman. I don’t expect Daario to be back. And Harry Lloyd, would they really have him as Rhaegar instead of a new actor? Idk. Another possibility is that it’s a known actor who is going to be in next season, which we aren’t supposed to know? Or…It’s just Kit and the guy hid his face for whatever reason

It looks like nat’s cousin that got to meet Kit from the first Iceland arrival thread. http://watchersonthewall.com/game-thrones-star-arrives-iceland-season-7-filming/

Sue, I asked about this in a previous article, but it got lost among the comments.

Could you check, please, if Sam Claflin has been cast in S7? He’s mutually subscribed on twitter to Aisling Franciosi and you can tell the subscription is recent. Actors do that when they are working togrther on something. I searched for other projects with the two of them but couldn’t find any. Could he be Rhaegar or is it nothing?

The guy is obviously going to be playing Lady Stoneheart…….*rimshot*……Anyway, crappy jokes aside, the smiley face guy kind of resembles Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, but I can’t imagine there would be any reason to hide his face unless something happened to it for show purposes. In other words, I have no idea who that is and I’m grasping at straws

it supposedly takes him a long time to die. Hello, mercy kill?

I haven’t heard anything, but he’d be a great Rhaegar, I believe.

I haven’t heard anything, but he’d be a great Rhaegar, I believe.

Kit is there, on the guy’s collage, so it’s not him. And Sean Bean played Rickard Stark in the unaired pilot episode, so I guess you could say there is precedence of an actor playing two roles in the show. I don’t know, I’m just desperate to see Rhaegar xD.

getting bitchslapped and KOed by a polar bear (making him useless in the fight) like a sorry ass wimp.

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Why don’t you all just wait for the actual season to air before complaining?

Yes!!!! Exactly what I was going to say!!! Only truly spoiled to the core self obsessed egomaniacal plant pots and high born summer children could be so pissed about stuff not even completed yet, nevermind nowhere near being aired!!!!

Calm the fook down!!! Nobodies Assed! ✌🏻️😘

I for one can’t wait.. TV has NEVER been as good as what we’re being served regularly right now, I’m sure whatever happens it will be groundbreaking, I’m sure some of the initial plans for most planned shoots for anything don’t sound/read that great, that’s what the hired “Talent” (actors, writers, crew and effects team) are for!!, just wait until everythin is done , dusted and put on a platter before kicking off!!!, this year is going to be awesome!, this season is the episode 9 of the entire series!!!,

who is supposed to die from the polar bear? it sounds pretty awesome

Most of the moaning right now is simply because the story isn’t lining up perfectly with peoples perfectly constructed head canons. Watch the damn show first

Remember when people thought Hold the door was lame.. until they saw the scene lol.

Btw, I kinda wish Gendry had just been allowed to keep on rowing tbh. Not everything needs to be tied up neatly.

I was actually even hoping we never saw Jorah again, because I thought 6×05 left on such a bittersweet note, that I thought it would’ve been quite beautiful to leave Jorah’s fate to the imagination.

But I will reserve any judgement until I see the final product.

I like the idea of Harry Lloyd playing Rhaegar. I wish we got some Rhaegar news lol. However considering how successful they were in hiding Aisling Franciosi’s casting, I doubt we’ll get any spoiler on Rhaegar.

Sam Claflin would be make a good Rhaegar too! 🙂 .

HelloThere: Most of the moaning right now is simply because the story isn’t lining up perfectly with peoples perfectly constructed head canons.

Very well put. So many people live inside their own personal bubbles and safe spaces these days that they can’t understand that not everything will line up with what they personally want and prefer. It’s someone else’s story being told. Either go along for the ride and take the ups and downs or get the F off. I haven’t liked every decision made on the show, but thats part of the deal.

Pretty visuals won’t fill up the huge plotholes of most spoilers.

Paul Kaye looks as crazy and cool as Thoros. So many characters beyond the wall… They will not all come back, sure.

Someone fighting and killed by a zombified polar bear?

That’s a bit tame! I hope they CGI a few ‘Ice Spiders’ in the final seasons with Jon Snow, et al, having a go at destroying those ! Now, that would be worth seeing 😉

I always imagined Rhaegar to look like a younger version of Paul Bettany or Jamie Campbell Bower, while Tom Hiddleston looks scarily alike with Harry Lloyd. He would look good with a silver wig. He would look good with anything though xD. But I don’t think they’ll cast a famous actor.

Yay!, finally a Paul Kaye sighting! Thoros is one of my favorite minor characters on the show. I love that Kaye portrays him with a healthy dose of mischief to balance out Beric’s somberness.

It sucks, though, knowing that this wight mission is going to lead to Thoros’s death. And a very painful death at that. I agree with Pigeon, why let him suffer in agony? What happens that prevents someone from mercy killing poor Thoros? I also agree with Luka: first people complain that the fight at the Fist of the First Men was lame because they didn’t show it (including the wight bear), but now that the wight polar bear will make it’s appearance it’s “lame”. JFC, in some people’s eyes D&D will never do anything right.

I, however, can’t wait to watch this expedition beyond the Wall.

Interesting that Joe Dempsie is there … that Gendry is.

Alfie Allen? Why would it be a spoiler to show his face, though?

Personally, I’m most looking forward to certain characters meeting each other for the first time as well as some reunions with characters who have not seen each other in a very long time.

Also looking forward to more White Walkers. I just absolutely love the episodes that feature them.

Ignore the visuals, acting, music, CGI and so on of season 6 and just break down the writing (most important aspect of a show/movie). It was atrocious.

the leak doesn’t make one hopeful for an improvement, on the contrary.

Oh no… that script leak that I thought was fake and a terrible script is actually shaping up to be true

Then I would suggest you stop watching and, instead of wandering around here aimlessly, you could become involved in a community for a TV show you do enjoy and find worthy of your writing standards. Game of Thrones obviously isn’t for you anymore. Most of your comments (literally, a majority) involve criticizing a piece of writing you haven’t actually experienced yet, or beating the dead horse of this or that season six scene you find troublesome. Talk about something else; spice it up! If you really can’t, just move on.

Well it’s definitely someone important they don’t want to spoil… So not Alfie and Kit, we know they both are in S7. Joe Dempsie has appeared in photos and videos while they were shooting in Spain, so I don’t think it’s him. I don’t see any reason why they’d hide Lino Facioli or Michiel Huisman, people don’t care much about these two. Wanting to hide Harry Lloyd or a famous actor playing Rhaegar makes sense.

Just give us Rhaegar, pretty please, D&D! Judging from the great casting Nina Gold does, I’m sure he would be great, no matter if he is an unknown actor or a big star nobody might have associated with Rhaegar before.

I will concede that I thought the writing took a bit of a hit in season 6, but I didn’t think it was atrocious or anything that harsh.

Is it possible that something major is gonna happen in this episode (other than the wight quest?). As epic as this quest sounds, I can’t imagine it taking up the entire 60-70 minute episode.

Looks like some dark hair sticking out of the hat (and behind the smiley). I’m guessing it’s Michael Huisman. He’s still more important to the north story than anywhere else.

same height as one of your guesses but much more alive:

why it must be Daario Nahaaris! Michiel Huisman, that is. A little shadow that I for now take to be a wisp of dark hair on the left hand side of the cap?

What would be the reason for that character to show up there?

edit: I see someone else beat me to posting the same idea!

I’m delighted Gendry is back. The last Baratheon standing!! 👏 Bring on that war hammer 😊 I do hope they go somewhere with the character, he had so much potential in my mind, it frustrated me that he was just left rowing for years.

“Sure, Joe. You can come back to Game of Thrones this season. On a scale from John Bradley to Kit Harington, how does location work in Iceland in January sound?”

Darnit, all these arrivals further confirming spoilers that were established as legit beyond a reasonable doubt back in November. This absolutely warrants a copy and paste of the exact same moaning applied to the previous dozen articles confirming this sequence.

Come on, does the fact that 9 out of 10 Reddit trolls all agree that these spoilers are mostly wrong or being planted by HBO despite all evidence to the contrary count for nothing?

I think it’ll take up the bulk of the episode, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two other storylines made an appearance. It’s worth noting that Alan Taylor is the only director who didn’t do any filming in Spain, though.

Please please please don’t kill Gendry!

OK, that was my first thought. I’ll now go and read the other comments. 🙂

Most of the moaning right now is simply because the story isn’t lining up perfectly with peoples perfectly constructed head canons.

Btw, I kinda wish Gendry had just been allowed to keep on rowing tbh.Not everything needs to be tied up neatly.

I was actually even hoping we never saw Jorah again, because I thought 6×05 left on such a bittersweet note, that I thought it would’ve been quite beautiful to leave Jorah’s fate to the imagination.

It’s about book canon not sb’s head canon, now we are forced to watch D&D poor fan fiction. I understand they want to wrap the things up asap but it’s a huge disappointment after a couple of good seasons. I also don’t care much about Jorah and to bring back Gendry who’s not even important in the book and wasn’t even missed or mention but any character in the show is so cheesy!

I hope he gets killed in the North not Thoros , Paul at least is always fun to watch.

Aagnee: It’s about book canon not sb’s head canon, now we are forced to watch D&D poor fan fiction.

Aagnee: I also don’t care much about Jorah and to bring back Gendry who’s not even important in the book and wasn’t even missed or mention but any character in the show is so cheesy!

This is your opinion. Some people share it, some people don’t. This does not make it a fact that the show has become “poor fan fiction”.

If you feel you are “forced” to watch the show… You aren’t! Just don’t watch it if you don’t enjoy it! It’s that easy, truly! Problem solved. You’re welcome 🙂

Also, cover your spoilers. I did it for you this time.

It’s someone short. It can’t be Daario and I also think Rhaegar would be taller.

If you feel you are “forced” to watch the show… You aren’t! Just don’t watch it! It’s that easy, truly! Problem solved. You’re welcome

I believe we can freely express our opinions even if you don’t share it.

I made a suggestion. An obvious one at that: If you don’t enjoy the show, don’t watch it. I did not censor you. That said, this is not a public square. It’s a private community moderated by a number of us to keep a friendly atmosphere. If the only thing someone here wants to contribute is “The show is shitty fan fiction now”… Well, what do you think you are contributing? Do you really think you are sparking interesting conversation there concerning criticism? Because it simply looks like you are venting because the showrunners aren’t doing what you’d like them to do.

Paul Kaye looks as crazy and cool as Thoros.

oh the same old ‘don’t like it, don’t watch it’ BS.

Seriously, why would you waste any time on media you don’t enjoy?

Years ago, I watched The Big Bang Theory and sitcoms like that. Then I realized I wasn’t truly enjoying them. I didn’t find them remotely funny. I was just wasting time. So I stopped watching those shows. Try it. It may make you into a much more positive person. Seriously, I’m not trying to be condescending or facetious here, though it may come off as that. It’s a genuine suggestion.

Keeping up with a piece of media you don’t enjoy is already weird. Being involved in a community who are passionate about it, apparently just out of spite? That’s more than weird. That’s actually problematic. And it starts intruding into other people enjoying their participation in the community. Please, tell me: What do you get out of this? Out of watching a show you don’t enjoy or participating in a fan community with whom you don’t agree on its most basic tenant of “enjoying this TV show”? It boggles the mind.

I made a suggestion. An obvious one at that: If you don’t enjoy the show, don’t watch it. I did not censor you. That said, this is not a public square. It’s a private community moderated by a number of us to keep a friendly atmosphere. If the only thing you or anyone else wants to contribute is “The show is shitty fan fiction now”… Well, what do you think you are contributing? Do you really think you are sparking interesting conversation there concerning criticism? Because it simply looks like you are venting because the showrunners aren’t doing what you’d like them to do.

I’m sorry did I hurt you ? Some things I like some things I don’t, simple as that. I’m a book fan and I used to like the show a lot. I still like it but not as much anymore and if you have a problem with criticism that’s your problem not mine. There is a lot of criticism and discussions about the show writing all over the internet and it’s actually very interesting. I was surprised there were not many people here discussing , now I know why 🙂

This is your opinion.Some people share it, some people don’t.This does not make it a fact that the show has become “poor fan fiction”.

About Gendry : it’s a fact not an opinion. Based on what we’ve got so far in the show and in the book.

About writing of the show I agree with you. Some like it , some don’t. I was just expressing my feelings about the writing.

“It’s D&D’s fan fiction now” doesn’t constitute constructive criticism. We do plenty of that here on the on-season. You may want to come here and watch. Sue writes the main reviews, Oz the one for non-book readers, and then the people write their own reviews on the comment section. Fascinating stuff, and really fun and constructive. Your comments don’t qualify as any of that. You did not hurt me, and I have no problem with criticism. I have a problem with someone coming here merely to vent and nothing else.

That guy has long black hair, it couldn’t be Sam Claflin

I missed that leak, can someone help me out with a link please?

But they have a point. You don’t like it then fine – be an adult, admit that people have differing opinions and move on with life. Instead you act like a child.

Who the heck is forcing you to watch anything? Should I call child protective services to rescue you from the horrible people who are forcing you to watch a TV show?

About Gendry : it’s a fact not an opinion. Based on what we’ve got so far in the show and in the book.

About writing of the show I agree with you. Some like it , some don’t. I was just expressing my feelings about the writing.

I really have no horse in this race. You’re free to like or not like anything you want, but there’s a major difference between constructive criticism of the show and being flat out disrespectful to it. The way you speak sounds like you’re taking a huge steaming dump on the writers of the show that you claim to enjoy so much. Like it or not, you have to expect and be prepared that some people will take offense to that, particularly when you’re visiting a site that exists for fans of the show.

Why anyone would come here just to complain about the show and then act surprised when they don’t get a positive response is beyond me.

This the show is fan fiction argument is so stupid. For one reason – no one here knows any of GRRM’s plans for future novels. No one knows what will happen. People are upset because their theories are not coming true on the show. Maybe they will in the books but guess what – we most likely will never know.

Because otherwise they have nothing to complain about. Instead of doing the sensible thing and admitting its not for them and moving on, they want to antagonise other people who like the show by saying things like fan fiction. What’s funny is that many of these people also come up with elaborate theories for the books that could also be considered fan fiction. They don’t realise the hypocrisy.

And that guy you replied to is an idiot. Apparently people here don’t criticise and all over the internet people criticise the shows writing. That’s a load of crap as many users here have respectfully criticised the show while there are many places on line that praise the show’s writing.

Because otherwise they have nothing to complain about. Instead of doing the sensible thing and admitting its not for them and moving on, they want to antagonise other people who like the show by saying things like fan fiction. What’s funny is that many of these people also come up with elaborate theories for the books that could also be considered fan fiction. They don’t realise the hypocrisy.

And that guy you replied to is an idiot. Apparently people here don’t criticise and all over the internet people criticise the shows writing. That’s a load of crap as many users here have respectfully criticised the show while there are many places on line that praise the show’s writing.

Yup, it’s always the same type of commenter who starts this crap. They come here acting like a child and then get upset when they’re treated like one. I think they get off on the negative attention. It’s self-fulfilling and kind of trollish. There doesn’t seem to be any other purpose for it.

This show was an 11/10 until episode 10 of season 4, now its like a 9.8/10 disappointing, relatively

I believe that it’s more down to frustration. The plot isn’t following how they expect it to and as such its fan fiction and crap. Funny that these people don’t realise that changes have to be made to source materials to get it to screen. But ah well we can only hope that these sad individuals finally do just grow up and stop watching.

“The guy” with the smiley on the photo is Kit Harington. It is an old photo, probably from before season 6 aired when the “Is Jon Snow dead?” mistery still was the most importasnt thing 😉 .

So to be seen as a fan and not have people like you baffled at those who criticise things means loving everything, every little thing about the show? That’s blind worship/cult following with no perspective. Come on, one doesn’t have to be hateful or biased against it to recognize the questionable (at the very least) choices in plot construction in s5 and s6 (mainly). They can be seen from an objective POV. There are also several factors why a person might keep watching something. It doesn’t have to come down to one thing. Just because I consider D and D’s writing to be subpar (one can’t deny the plotholes and contrivances really, they’re a fact, not a matter of opinion), it is indeed the weak link about GOT, it doesn’t mean I hate the whole show altogether or don’t enjoy it at all. I like everything about it but the writing (and maybe acting of a handful of actors). So don’t give me that ‘ you criticise, you hate, why watch’ ignorant misconstruction. Differing opinions and critique keep discussions healthy and interesting. How boring and cult-like it would be if everyone was just heaping praise on the show, no matter what it does.

Errh, if you want “book canon”, shouldn´t you have a book first? We are way beyond books in S7.

Isn´t that what the book purists do? Always the victims.

Could you check, please, if Sam Claflin has been cast in S7? He’s mutually subscribed on twitter to Aisling Franciosi and you can tell the subscription is recent. Actors do that when they are working togrther on something. I searched for other projects with the two of them but couldn’t find any. Could he be Rhaegar or is it nothing?

That’s interesting. He’s not too tall (5’11”), naturally dark-haired, and looks perfect in this picture someone did of the Targaryen sibs https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7b/10/c2/7b10c22fec295efab989efac24824526.jpg

Having not seen The Hunger Games films – how good is Sam Claflin as an actor? He would be a good Rhaegar based off looks but can’t really judge him as haven’t seen him in anything?

With Hardhome and BOTB, I think they abandoned that practice of “one location episode” we had with Blackwater and WOTW.

That’s what im saying! Has the body and height to be him. Plus he’s still sporting the platinum blonde!

Omfg IF this would come true i’d totally lose my shit. This was my post on Reddit 4 months ago:

From an objective POV you can recognize the “questionable” choices in plot construction in every season of GoT, and not only in this show, but in every show. And in the book as well.

But the fact that you are focusing too much on those “questionable” choices in the last two seasons, when the differences between the show and the books were major, tells me that you are analyzing this show from the book reader’s perspective, and how much this show is similar to the books.

That drawing of Rhaegar is based on Alex Pettyfer, which I’d rather have playing Rhaegar than Sam Claflin tbh. Sam Claflin would look terrible with a silver wig.

By now, you don´t even have books anymore to compare it to. It has become an exercise of what people think GRRM might have written, not what he did write.

I actually hate comparing books with their adaptation. I never do that. I don’t mind or even love changes as long as they make sense. I look at GOT as a standalone show, and I just can’t ignore its bad writing, contrivances and corner cutting. The show’s plot stopped being organic. Characters act OOC or irrationally just to reach certain plot beats (case in point Sansa concealing the the KOTV for no reason but to ramp up Stark drama and have KOTV act out their own charge of Rohirrim repeating Tywin and Stannis’ charges, no consequence to the resurrection, Jon not being changed, no one questioning Jon’s desertion and comeback from the dead, Arya strolling around Braavos in broad daylight like an ignorant careless rookie, when she knows Faceless Men and what they can do and actually do to people who oppose them and so on). You know it has reached a bad place when the plot stops revolving around characters while they start revolving around the plot.

Let’s not even mention the whole stabbing and parkouring in Arya’s arc. The mere thought of it incites cringe. As for s7 based on the leak. I could point out a plothole or contrivance in about 90% of the spoilers in it. There’s still some hope things won’t be exactly as they seem.

I actually hate comparing books with their adaptation. I never do that. I don’t mind or even love changes as long as they make sense. I look at GOT as a standalone show, and I just can’t ignore its bad writing, contrivances and corner cutting. The show’s plot stopped being organic. Characters act OOC or irrationally just to reach certain plot beats (case in point Sansa concealing the the KOTV for no reason but to ramp up Stark drama and have KOTV act out their own charge of Rohirrim repeating Tywin and Stannis’ charges, no consequence to the resurrection, Jon not being changed, no one questioning Jon’s desertion and comeback from the dead, Arya strolling around Braavos in broad daylight like an ignorant careless rookie, when she knows Faceless Men and what they can do and actually do to people who oppose them and so on). You know it has reached a bad place when the plot stops revolving around characters while they start revolving around the plot.

A lot of those things bothered me and many others as well, but there’s still so much good stuff going on too. And I think it’s pretty cool that we are so close to the end and still have no idea what the ending will be. I’m excited to find out.

So Arya recovered too quickly in your opinion and you call the whole season atrocious? She was always portrayed as careless and almost arrogant.

If Jon was changed that would be a bad writing. It would throw out his development in previous 5 seasons with that plot device.

And for the KOTV we will see if they address some of those issues in S7, but I never claimed that the show was perfect.

What I said was that I could find problems in every season of GoT, if I want to do that. The show didn’t have more problems in the last 2 seasons. They are very consistent with both good and bad sides of the show. LOL

I’m more willing to forgive D&D for some mistakes they’ve made, than I’m willing to do the same with GRRM.

With D&D I see passion, I see their efforts I see how hard they work every year.

And they have only 10 hours every year and only 6 months to shoot every season.

I disagree. Season 1 was near damn perfect. It’s the only one I’ve rewatched so many times. It started going downhill with season 2, but it had been fluctuating until season 5. For example I like s4 more than s2 and 3, even though it contains way more plot contrivances, like some parts of s2 more than s3 and vice versa. But s5 and 6 are on a whole new level when it comes to writing. They don’t feel like a natural and consistent part of the first 4 seasons to me. The writing is at its lowest atm.

They don’t feel like that for you because you are looking at them from a book reader’s perspective. You can find many reactors on YT, who were reacting to every episode of GoT and never read the books, they’ve never felt that anything was different with season 5, even if book purists in their comment sections warned them that it will be the worst thing they’ve ever watched.

And besides S5 and S6 are Act II of this story. It seems natural that it would be different than Act I.

For me S5 and S6 felt more like a natural and consistent part of the first 4 seasons than AFFC and ADWD felt like a natural and consistent part of the first 3 books.

Like I said I hate this comparison game when it comes to adaptations. But I do care about the established aspects in the lore to be preserved like the whole

marriage annulment that Rhaegar doing it on the show would mean going against the set up key point and the criteria for it and Jon being named like his then living half-brother.

And I definitely don’t look at the show from a book reader’s POV. I don’t even remember most of what’s in the books as I only read each instalment once years ago (just so you know I consider the last two books to be subpar). Many a time I’d have to look up some book plot point when discussing them.

I really don’t want to discuss the plot points from S7 that were written without context.

But your negative approach to them already, assures me that you can’t claim to have objective POV on the show. Because the person who really has objective approach wouldn’t criticize something (or praise something) before seeing it.

An objective person would be open-minded and wouldn’t already claim that 90% of a season “doesn’t make sense”. And how is that even possible? How is possible to write a season where 90% of a story doesn’t make sense? LOL

That phrase (“doesn’t make sense”) is the favorite phrase of every book purist. So forgive me, but I really don’t believe that you are analyzing the show in good faith.

I think, you are intentionaly or not, finding a reason to hate the show. You are already dismissing S7 even beofore the first trailer and you want me to believe in your objectivity ?

to trick the audience into thinking he survives so they will be surprised and heartbroken when he does not.

What happens that prevents someone from mercy killing poor Thoros?

I also agree with Luka: first people complain that the fight at the Fist of the First Men was lame because they didn’t show it (including the wight bear), but now that the wight polar bear will make it’s appearance it’s “lame”.

I doubt the same people made both comments.

And what I forgot to say when I spoke about Arya it that the actress and writers and director claimed that Arya’s strategy was to lure the Waif in that dark room, where Arya would have an advantage and kill her.

So Arya was in open in Braavos, because she wanted to be seen. I agree that her wounds were over the top for shock value.

Was getting stabbed multiple times and nearly dying (but magically saved and running and jumping through the streets like no big deal, because plot armour, but she didn’t anticipate that at that point) part of her master plan? That’s some contrived excuse.

Of course not, but she wasn’t wandering the streets for no reason. I think that she did anticipate the attack at some pint, or that she would be followed, but the Waif could be anyone, so it is hard to be completely prepared, but she did react quickly and escaped.

Luvd80s2, in his profile shots, all i see is Snow. He would be my pick to play him if he can act.

phantomcloud, It’s not D&D’s fault. They ran out of source material. Jon did change. Didn’t you see his permagrin?

That said, this is not a public square. It’s a private community moderated by a number of us to keep a friendly atmosphere. If the only thing someone here wants to contribute is “The show is shitty fan fiction now”… Well, what do you think you are contributing?

Number 2 on the FAQ deals with the moderation policy of this site. It states the following: “WatchersOnTheWall.com has an open commenting policy for the most part, but personal attacks on other commenters are not permitted. Spamming and trolling are also not allowed, and comments of this nature may be deleted without warning. If your post contains language that is racist, extremely vulgar, or otherwise abusive, it may also warrant deletion.”

There is nothing about “show bashing” or stating it is “fan fiction” (whether you agree or not) that violates any of those parameters. There is nothing about mandated contributions that match up with the majority view as being a requirement. While you and others may not like certain posts you deem as “show bashing” such a thing is not in violation of the above moderation policies because “show bashing” does not constitute “personal attacks on other commenters”, “spamming and trolling”, or contain “language that is racist, extremely vulgar, or otherwise abusive”.

If what you personally deem as “show bashing” is in violation of the following sentence, “The goal of the creators of WotW is to establish an enjoyable community for all fans, and it’s with this in mind that we created this policy”, than this sentence is in need of further clarification for what exactly constitutes “an enjoyable community” and where what you deem as “show bashing” either crosses or does not cross your imaginary line.

I would just like to thank you for your comments; about 15 years ago, when I first started posting in fan communities, I was dismayed by how quickly they could devolve into pointless bitchfests dominated by negative people. And I’m actually a book reader who hates a handful of the choices made by Benioff & Weiss! However, I’d rather have those conversations with three or four fellow book readers IRL. I come here for great discussion of what is, not “what could have been.”

Or you could maybe follow this simple rule of thumb: don’t be total a-holes. State your negative case and move on. If your only contribution is to repeat that D&D are hacks and the books are perfect it gets fairly tedious.

And maybe do some self-reflection once in a while. Remind yourselves that no one has actually seen season 7. Why pre-judge something with this many moving parts? You have no idea how season 7 will turn out. State your reservations and move the f on.

I mostly lurk here but i still consider this my go-to place for GOT news and discussion. It gets old when threads are constantly derailed with this stuff. So the show isn’t your cup of tea? Fine. State your case against it in a respectful way. I enjoy reading different perspectives. But good discussion often devolves into book-purist vs. show watcher and it gets soooo very old.

This will all be over soon. Some of us would like to enjoy the time that’s remaining.

lol good job. tell it like it is. it’s amusing when the mods are found out to not be following their own established rules and making up some restrictions as they go.

mau: But the fact that you are focusing too much on those “questionable” choices in the last two seasons, when the differences between the show and the books were major,

Hmm: well, it’s a bit of a negative evidence argument to assert that last series was too much different from the book! That said, I suppose “existence” is completely different from “nonexistence.”

The only point that would need to be established is documentation that it happened. The details might titillate the “world building” section of the hardcore fandom: but it would bore the rest of us.

I might die of joy if they bring back Harry Lloyd for a scene. Any scene. Any role.

I don’t understand criticizing the writers and show before even seeing the episodes. This whole criticism of the episodes based on a plot leak that does not give any context/dialogue and does not account for acting/directing/cinematography/music is rather bewildering. I can understand critiquing the show after seeing the finished product. Lord knows I’ve done my fair share throughout the years(though not as much as some).

Personally, season six as a whole was very entertaining for me, even with some inconsistent writing. I still think it is the best production on TV and in no way think it is garbage, as some of the strongest critics seem to suggest. Judging from the critical and fan reactions, they seemed to agree. When you win the Emmy and Critics’ Choice awards for best drama, that says the show is still pretty damn good to me.

Tyrion Pimpslap: Personally, season six as a whole was very entertaining for me, even with some inconsistent writing

I did not find the writing inconsistent, myself. Most of the complaints were “how could X have been so stupid?” or something like that. However, people screw up in intense situations. Indeed, big things are most apt to happen when people get careless: and people pushed to the limits as these characters have been would slip up and get careless.

Indeed, given that the whole point of these sorts of stories is to create believable people who go through believable personality crises, the idea that they should somehow be static bemuses me!

Looks like Aiden Gillen to me. The freckles on his chest (granted it has been waxed), the body shape and size. Plus Aiden likes that jacket http://imgur.com/gallery/3bSK4/comment/392746440

The pocket is on the wrong side, but that is the difference between a selfie which flips the image and a professional photograph (I think).

Ah I was wrong about Aiden’s jacket. The pocket is in the same side as the buttons in one image and on the opposite side in another.

One could argue that if 90 percent of a commenter’s posts is bashing the show and D&D, while repeating the same stuff, then that could be considered trolling. I wouldn’t say it is, but it can get annoying, especially in the offseason, when hope springs eternal(or some other sports cliche).

I was compelled to Google Jethro Tull. Good one!

Thank you for making me feel old. Or out of touch. Or both. 😀

Seriously, the resemblance becomes more prominent if you watch Ian Anderson (the lead singer for the Tull) perform. Anderson always played with an almost manic expression, particularly in the eyes, which I thought that Kaye also injected into Thoros. Well, drinking, singing Thoros, that is: it went away when he was penitent and pious Thoros, which I thought added gravity with the contrast.

I was actually a child in Brazil in the 70s. I never heard Jethro Tull on the radio there, and my American parents weren’t into rock. They were (still are) jazz, soul and R&B sorts. Long story short: I didn’t listen to Eric Clapton, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, or Fleetwood Mac until the 90s. And even after 35 years in the U.S., there’s still a lot about 70s pop culture that’s a total mystery to me.

Wolfish: And even after 35 years in the U.S., there’s still a lot about 70s pop culture that’s a total mystery to me.

Polyester will be a mystery to everyone long after, say, cold fusion is solved…..

I’m done, wtf I’m expecting a epic season instead we get this

I agree!! I think that what Sue has done with this site is amazing! All the articles are very well written and researched and the conversations here are quite nice,funny, and polite(´cept for a troll here and there), and Luka does a wonderful job at moderating 🙂

This photo has haunted me for a while, for I can see this actor as Rhaegar and with him standing next to George, well…it has made me wonder.

I never understood Game Of Throne fans getting upset on how one dies in Westeros. Not everyone gets an epic warrior death. You could be a King in the north and die at a wedding, or a badass Khal and die from a wound or a strategic powerful leader and die taking a shit or get poisoned or just simply letting your guard down. There’s more and I can go on forever but I think you get the point.

Don’t be surprise if one day The Hound dies choking on a chicken bone. That’s life!

I am very excited for a polar bear! Filming with any kind of bear is really dangerous so I hope they just decide to go for total CGI and use a full sized male (around 10ft on hind legs and nearly 100 stone in weight). They are amazing animals and sooo badass. The Euron of the bear world judging by what book readers have said about him. I don’t care about the rest of the scene, just hoping for some serious bear badassery! Sounds like a epic way to die to me. Although not one I’d want to experience myself, certainly.

Man I just want to see Rhaegar. This guy definitely looks the part and I’d rather have an almost completely unknown play him (like Aisling played Lyanna) than someone like, say, Chris Hemsworth xD

You’re talking about 4chan dude who is not as reliable as lads. Who said Jon will have his heroic moment when fighting wights. Usually Jon gets heroic moment of swordfighting because that’s what he’s good at according to D&D. In my opinion Jon will be almost killed by a bear and then fighting wights later on when Dany rescues them. Thoros’s death took hours because of his wounds from a wight polar bear. Means polar bear attacked them, then comes NK and his army.

So so glad to see Gendry returns to the show with many scenes!

I don’t like what I read about the purpose of the expedition in some leaks from reddit, as I think it doesn’t make sense at all (even with more context it just doesn’t make sense from a story perspective if what I read is true) but I hope to enjoy the action part, and I am looking forward the dialogues between the characters that have never met.

I agree with some of those critiques, and the Arya & Sansa bit especially made me throw up my hands this past season (*shakes fist furiously at Sansa*). However, I do not care. I love the show. I love the books. I thought season 6 was incredibly entertaining television. And while I’ll discuss the good and the bad in both mediums, I’m not going to dwell on the negative and pretend that every other series doesn’t have the same issues and normally much worse. I’m certainly not going to judge a season of television before it airs.

That said, people watch shows for different reasons. Some people just want to laugh, cry, get angry at characters, be sad with the characters, be happy for them when something good finally happens for them, etc. Some people watch the shows through the lens of an armchair movie critic, and it’s harder for them to look past certain things for the sake of being entertained. While I fit into the former category, I also enjoy listening to people like Jo Robinson get all twisted by those perceived plot holes and conveniently timed Rohirrim charges. It’s entertaining to me from a psychological perspective, but it gets old to me if you’re dwelling on it 6 months later.

I guess what I’m saying is that, while I can understand some of your opinions on certain plot points, I wouldn’t expect many fans to be very receptive to it at this point, especially when you’re dumping on an un-aired season. What’s the point really? We want to look forward to the show, not dread it.

Agreed. Me and several of my friends cannot wait to see him.

Hail Mother of Cats, pleased to “see” you again! I’m glad you are enthusiastic because of what’s covered, but it still pains me you won’t get the penguins you deserve! BTW, have you seen the film

Yes, this! And let it be Leif Stacey or Devin Oliver!

I must admit I didn’t hear of any of these, but, after googling them, I find both insanely handsome in a Targaryenesque way 😉

Still don’t believe the leaked script will turn out to be 100% true

Off topic, but I had never seen this guy’s whole repertoire before, just his Jon Snow. His Davos and Ramsay made me laugh, and his High Sparrow was eerily perfect!

Great… I loved it. Thanks for posting it Pigeon. That guy is brilliant 😀

Then I would suggest you stop watching and, instead of wandering around here aimlessly, you could become involved in a community for a TV show you do enjoy and find worthy of your writing standards. Game of Thrones obviously isn’t for you anymore. Most of your comments (literally, a majority) involve criticizing a piece of writing you haven’t actually experienced yet, or beating the dead horse of this or that season six scene you find troublesome. Talk about something else; spice it up! If you really can’t, just move on.

Well said. I rarely post on forums but always read WoTW and other ASOIAF/GoT sites daily. Lately, the comments criticizing an unaired season of a

have been so harsh. Even the Reddit forums have turned toxic, bashing the show continuously, past seasons and the unaired seventh. I don’t understand why so many people watch something they don’t find entertaining. If there’s a show, movie, or book I don’t like, I stop paying attention to it.

Anyway, sorry for being so long-winded but what you said really resonated with me. The toxicity of the fandom, mainly on other sites, has become so disheartening as a fan of both the books and show, it’s hard to stomach most forums anymore. The excuse whenever they’re asked why they keep watching a show they despise is almost always: “I don’t want to be spoiled online about something that happened on GoT before the books are published.” Maybe it makes sense… I just couldn’t be invested in a show I hated so much no matter the circumstances. Thanks for letting me vent. I love the work this website puts in for fans of GoT & ASOIAF. (And Westworld)

This a thousand times. Some people just don’t seem to realise that they can simply not watch and move on with life, letting people who wish to debate the show do so in peace.

I find it funny that the two people who started this argument are now acting like the victims. No mate – you could have been respectful towards other users but instead you chose to be a baby.

Excellent! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for making me laugh!

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