Game of Thrones ALL BOOK SPOILERS (Up to Dance with Dragons)

Well you could do the red wedding with Edmure just as a stand in and be told it's Robbs uncle/family marrying a Frey, but it lacks the depth and flavor.

Like you though, I'm glad they'll be exploring the Riverlands a bit afterall.

Here's the full list for anyone unable to go to the link:

•Mance Rayder: We’ve heard about him all season. A former member of the Night’s Watch who became the “King Beyond the Wall,” the leader of the Wildlings.
•Daario Naharis: A confident and seductive warrior.
•Jojen Reed; Meera Reed: A teenage brother and sister duo with special insights.
•Edmure Tully: A brash young member of the Tully family.
•Ser Brynden Tully (The Blackfish): Catelyn Stark’s uncle.
•Lady Selyse Florent: Stannis Baratheon’s wife.
•Shireen: Stannis’ daughter.
•Olenna Redwyne (The Queen of Thorns): Margaery Tyrell’s sharp-witted grandmother.
•Beric Dondarrion: A skilled knight who is the leader of the outlaw group Brotherhood Without Banners.
•Thoros of Myr: A red priest who follows the same religion as Melisandre.
•Tormund Giantsbane: A Wildling raider

"Edmure Tully: A brash young member of the Tully family."

Isn't Edmure Tully Caitlin's not that much younger brother? They make it sound like he's Robb's age.

I also heard they've had readings for Vargo Hoat. They may be losing the lisp.

This latest discussion made me think of a topic.

Minor characters- who do you think is vital to the story playing out? These are characters that must be included in the TV show for the story to work but who aren't POV or major characters. Who do you think are just window dressing (even if you think they are important)? Who can be condensed or combined? Who absolutely can not?

example- the Reeds are minor characters. Robb even though a non POV character is a major character. Dany is obviously a major character. Daario is a minor character.

And. Go.

There is only one essential minor character, and we've already met him in Season 2:

Dolorous Edd.

Arya Stark takes the cinnamon challenge.

Valar Mar-blaaaaaaaaaaaaaach!

You guys didn't notice The Mountain That Rides decapitating his horse after he lost to Loras in a jousting match in Season 1?

Yeah... like that.

I almost consider him a major character, along with his brother The Hound. Between the two of them they set a lot of things in motion.

Yeah, the Mountain has been all over this season. Not only did they change actors (but a very good match) they changed his armor and put him in Lannister gear. He's the one that picks the people to be questioned/tortured that makes Hot Pie pee himself. He's also in quite a few Tywin scenes. Without his helmet from season 1 he just looks like a tall Lannister man.

Great season finale last night but some major changes to the story. The Sack of Winterfell was completely different... will Theon escape the clutches of Bolton's *******? Or will his Ironmen just be caught as they try to escape?

I knew Dany's experience inside the House of the Undying would be different, but killing Xaro Xhoan Daxos? Who's in charge of Quarth now?

I'm re-watching parts of the episode and one of the "Previously On" scenes makes Theon's fate clear. Robb offered amnesty and safe passage to any Ironborn who surrendered... except Theon. So they just turned him over and went free! (Or died hideous deaths at Ramsay's hands in the Dreadfort)

Exactly. I think if not for that "previously on" it would have seemed like they just turned tail and ran.

The final scene was pretty neat. I was half hoping we'd get to see Sam the Slayer, but I guess that will come at the beginning of Season 3.

I *totally* expected to see The Slayer in action... but as the wights (and actual Others!) piled up, I realized he couldn't be a hero then and live. Maybe he'll kill one escaping, or when he rejoins his Brothers.

Grenn and Edd once again proved that old adage: "I don't need to outrun the bear, I just need to outrun you!"

Seeing how large scale the group of Others and Wights were, I kind of wonder if we'll still get the mutiny or if the Mormont will just perish in the fight on the Fist. If I remember correctly it wasn't that overwhelming of a group. (But I'm not complaining because it was an awesome final image for the season.)

Also, yay! for Jason Mamoa getting to reprise Khal Drogo although briefly. I know he was happy to be back.

Also, it was interesting they left a lot of the prophecy out of the House of the Undying (especially pertaining to the red wedding). I think that the image seen in the books would probably give it away much too easy in a visual medium like TV.

What is really interesting is her vision walking at the wall. I don't remember if that was in the book, but the fact it was included I think is pretty telling and possibly at least some kind of indication that she will end up at the wall in the future. (Which makes sense)

Yeah, I figured all of the prophecy stuff would be left out, for that exact reason. If we get it at all, I suspect it will be from Quaithe later on.

I don't remember exactly from the books but were the Stark kids brought up under the Seven (I know they had a sept in Winterfell for Cat) or the old gods? Or was last nights wedding ceramony a mistake by the production team? I'm not getting all purist-y about it, just something I found weird, unless I missed that about the children. Even so, wouldn't the King in the North do it for the old gods regardless?

(The only one I know for sure was Jon Snow worshipping the old gods)