Game of Thrones [Potential Book Spoilers]

I mean, the show had him retired as a helper at a sept too, but then he got dragged back into it after some douches from the Brotherhood Without Banners massacred his guys. Which seems like it could very well happen in the books, given Lady Stoneheart.

Except that it's heavily implied in the books that Sandor's pretty much done fighting - the way the Elder Brother talks about how "the Hound died" and "Sandor Clegane is at rest" seems to be a case of From a Certain Point of View.

The gravedigger scene was mainly a hint that yes, he survived - but I doubt GRRM is actually going to take him out of retirement now, especially since his wounds seem to have affected his overall combat effectiveness (the gravedigger's got a limp, for one thing).

I think the series kept Sandor around because of how popular he was with viewers - similar to how Bronn's been getting more screentime than he had in the books.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on May 16th 2019 at 4:19:19 PM

I don't think we're seeing Sandor again in the books, but it's possible. I figure Cersei's trial will end with a similar outcome as it did in the show (Green Trial), though probably different mechanics to get there.

If we ever see the Hound in the books again, I think it will be similar to how we saw him as the gravedigger— as a cute little "wait was that...?" cameo, not as a prime mover and shaker in the plot.

Remember that Sandor is officially crippled and walks with a limp.

Brienne notes that the gravedigger is lame.

Omigahd, Gravediggin's, like, so lame, you guys.

Besides if we have a Trial by Combat on Cersei's behalf I want to see Loras wreck the Mountain's shit.

Embrace the basic berson within you. Enjoy this show for what it is.

@Gaon Even better, Loras has half his face burnt up like the Hound when he wrecks the Mountain.

I remembered he had been seared but I didn't make the connection until now.

KNIGHTBOWL. GET FUCKING HYPE.

The Burnt Flower and the Dead Mountain!!!

I do have a theory though that GRRM parked Loras on Dragonstone so Loras would be there to swear Dany his sword to get revenge on the Lannisters, the High Sparrow and “Aegon” after Marge gets beheaded.

I mean, in my personal idea for how the series would go, I would have had Loras survive the Green Trial. Horrifically scarred and damaged, but he survives. He joins up with Olenna and Tyrell joins up with Dany. Loras and Olenna could have some interesting discussions about the House since they're all that's left and I think that could make an interesting dynamic and character conflict. Loras survived while his sister gave her all for him and, on top of that, the house line isn't likely to continue at their rate. Taking Margeary out and asking of Loras what he would do as her heir could be really interesting.

And, again, the more characters on the playing field going into events like The Long Night or The Sack of Kingslanding, the more I don't know what they'll do with them. There are too few players left that I know roughly who'll die and who won't based on who's death the show is willing to deal with the consequences though.

Though, also personally, I wouldn't have ended the show with the defeat of Cersei or the Night King. I think rebuilding and "How do we pick up the pieces?" or "What happens when the 'Evil Regime' is overthrown?" is easily a question this series was kind of founded on. It's a series where the plot and characters have separate climaxes.

So, re-watching this ep right now.

I'm gonna say this: Sandor won Cleganebowl.

Or, he would have if he'd been fighting a normal human. He put his sword through Gregor's gut. That's usually a death blow. It's just that Gregor had the advantage of being a damn zombie.

In fact, Sandor won that fight at multiple points, but Damn zombie Gregor just didn't seem to understand that due to being his damn zombie self.

So basically, the only reason it came down to Mutual Kill is because Gregor was cheating by virtue of already being dead.

Sandor Clegane: winner.

It has been a ride these past weeks both good and bad turns on the road, and now we come to the end...

Edited by Mizerous on May 16th 2019 at 2:41:15 PM

Eh. Honestly doubt a sword through the gut would kill the Mountain. Maybe eventually, but not fast enough to prevent a mutual kill.

... knife through the eye, however...

Gregor vs Jason... now that's something I never knew I wanted.

Dany: I HAVE BROUGHT PEACE, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM TO MY NEW KINGDOM!

Jon: Your new kingdom?

So, you think the book endings will be any better?

If what Martin has said is any indication, probably not. As it stands this was a mixed bag.

Almost assuredly. This episode had it's moments, but it was sort of just...there. And the thing about turning Westeros into an Elective Monarchy is idiotic. Westeros will have another civil war in Sansa's lifetime, guaranteed, because being primus inter pares among feudal rulers is impossible to stabilize.

Also, the Small Council meeting at the end sounded really stupid.

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on May 19th 2019 at 10:28:30 AM

I know they were given a rough outline, but I really don't know how much it was used.

I do expect Jon to go north, I expect Dany to end up on the throne (and Young Griff to be the Targaryen king who goes mad). I do not expect the north to secede. Other than that, I can't think of much. Arya, I can't even begin to predict.

What I really love about this ending is it just forgets Great Councils are a thing the show mentioned.

That was an okay ending. I was dreading something really awful with how the people who read the leaks were reacting, but I liked it well enough.

• It's amazing how D&D finally remembered that Peter Dinklage is a good actor for these last two episodes.
• That shot where Jon is walking up the stairs and it looks like Dany has dragon wings was really fucking good.
• The shitty "Jon must kill his love to save the world" bit was the worst part of the episode. Such a bad cliche. Drogon destroying the monarchy made up for it though.
• Lol at Sam inventing democracy and everyone laughing their asses off at it.
• Elective Monarchy is a good ending for Westeros though. I definately get the feeling that Bran become king entirely because he winds up king in the books though. That was the other weak part of the episode.
• So if Fire and Blood is any indication, Planetos is round and what's west of Westeros is Asshai. Arya's gonna learn some kickass blood magic.
• THE QUEEN IN THE NORTH!
• Oh, so that's why he didn't pet the dog.

Overall, an okay, but not spectacular finale that could have been a lot worse.

So... what's stopping Dorne from following the North and asking for independence? If anything, they should have been the ones who asked first, seeing as they stayed independent for almost two centuries after the North kneeled to the Targaryens.