This post will be about Arya’s / Daenerys’ plot line for The Winds of Winter and probably the fifth season of Game of Thrones. I will also discuss the mid-season finale of Outlander, “Both Sides Now”. I apologize for being a little bit late on this post, but I wanted it to be well-documented.
Concerning Game of Thrones, there are going to be some deviations from Martin’s gift chapter, “Mercy”, especially when it comes to characters. Here is the link for the “Mercy” chapter (from the unpublished Winds of Winter).
Based on this chapter, a book character, Harys Swyft travels to Braavos as Cersei’s envoy to deal with the Iron Bank. He is accompanied by Lannister men, and one of them is Raff the Sweetling. As mentioned in a previous post, Raff the Sweetling is the one who killed Loomy Greenhands in the books. This led to Arya killing Raff in the “Mercy” chapter exactly in the same manner in which Raff killed Loomy. In the TV show, Polliver is the one who killed Loomys and stole Needle from Arya. TV Arya killed Polliver in the same manner in which he killed Loomy.
The TV show has made some changes. The characters travelling to Braavos are Mace Tyrell and Meryn Trant. The assumption here is that Mace is going to be taking Harys Swyft’s role and Meryn Trant will be the one that Arya will be killing. I just need to remind viewers that Meryn Trant is the Kingsguard responsible for beating Sansa.
Here is the link from Watchers on the Wall, a website that I recommend for Game of Thrones fans.
Plot Line in Braavos for Game of Thrones Season 5
Here is the corresponding Westeros.org thread associated with this plot line. This thread is not spoiler-free.
Tycho and Mace in Braavos (with book spoilers)
The “Mercy” chapter provides the reader with lots of detail. “A Gift of Mercy” podcast from www.radiowesteros.com, which is about Arya, details many allusions to her family. It also touches slightly the political intrigue of Braavos. Here is an interesting interpretation concerning the current Sealord (ruler) of Braavos and Illyrio Mopatis, Varys’ contact in Essos, and probably a Blackfyre descendant.
Connection between Illyrio and the Sealord of Braavos – Part 1
Connection between Illyrio and the Sealord of Braavos – Part 2
Illyrio is the character that arranged the marriage between Daenerys and Khal Drogo. He lives in the Free-city of Pentos where slavery is not allowed. However, he is a slaver and it seems that he has connections with most slavers at Slaver’s Bay (where Daenerys actually is). He even has slaves in his household. The first link is a conversation between Illyrio and Tyrion. The first link’s spoiler section is taken from the “Mercy” chapter. The fat man is actually Illyrio and he is taking advantage of the current Sealord’s weakness.
The second link refers to the former Sealord of Braavos being more active in foreign affairs to the point that he was present when a marriage pact was arranged between Viserys, Daenerys’ brother, and Arianne Martell, the heiress to the Kingdom of Dorne, a character that the TV has more likely cut off. I will discuss this in a future post for sure. Here is a post detailing the consequences of the next Sealord being engaged more in foreign affairs, and it is possible that he will align with Daenerys once she starts heading towards Westeros.
Political Intrigue and Possible Foreshadowing to the Second Dance of Dragons
It is important to consider the origins of Braavos, a city founded by people escaping slavery from the Valyrian dragonlords. It has also be discussed that the Faceless Men are behind the Doom of Valyria. Basically its citizens are against slavery, and they even imposed an anti-slavery treaty on Pentos. Of course, Illyrio is breaking the rules. It is likely that Braavos will be an ally to Daenerys, especially once she realizes that Illyrio has been plotting to get rid off her. I am not sure how the show will adapt the Blackfyre plot line. To me that is a big question mark and I hope that producers will not cut this plot line out.
Here is another interesting read concerning Illyrio and how he has been planning to get rid off Daenerys. This thread is not spoiler-free, and it will not be an easy read for only TV viewers:
Here are some of my favourite pins of Arya. Should I say that she is one of my favourite characters from A Song of Ice and Fire?
Regarding Outlander’s “Both Sides Now”, here are the highlights: Claire and Frank at Craigh Na Dun: This scene is a TV show addition. In the books, the reader is only familiar with what Claire is experiencing. For non-readers, like my husband, this was such a great scene (he considered it to be the best scene of the episode). The same is not applicable to most book readers, even though I did like it. Of course, opinions here are divided. My husband would have loved Claire to go back to the 20th century. I guess some non-readers prefer Frank over Jamie now. What I liked about this scene is the editing and the music. The scene flips back and forth between the past and the future, and the combination of two different filming scenes was flawless. The actors also excelled in this scene because it was emotionally intense. The music was beautiful, and it was the same theme that was played in the first episode when the “witches” were performing the ritualistic “dance” at Craigh Na Dun. TV Frank: Most book readers find Frank to be a “boring” character. Of course, his ancestor, Black Jack, is a more interesting character, at least from an actor’s perspective. The TV show has opted to give more character development to Frank to emphasize Claire’s internal conflict. Frank is more likely to be a desirable type in the 20th century and even more in the 21st century. He is the bookish type, and some women may find that particular type smart and interesting (I guess subsequent seasons will portray that). Some reviewers have noticed a certain parallel between Frank and his ancestor, Black Jack. I think there is some connection, and probably the TV show is trying to establish some similarities between the two, especially by casting the same actor to play both characters. However, there are also some differences: I always thought that Jack Black was a coward taking advantage of victims that were not able to defend themselves or of his authority to perform his deviant, malicious acts, and I really do not see Frank being like that at this stage. He is way too much nicer than his ancestor (so far). The following review discusses slightly the parallels between Jack Black and Frank:
TV Jamie: I feel that Jamie has had less character development in the show than Frank. This is based on my assessment about my husband’s perception about both characters. Yesterday I asked a non-reader of the books about her preference too, and she preferred Jamie. Book readers prefer Jamie over Frank because he has more character development in the books, and also because they have more information concerning Claire’s married life with both men. The viewer learns more about Jamie in “The Wedding” episode; he is honourable, nicely mannered, very handsome and dutiful. He strives to do things properly too. He takes his marriage vows seriously which also makes him protective of his wife (be careful Black Jack!). Jamie is a warrior type, a desirable characteristic back in the 18th century. He is a great swordsman, and knows how to fight using his fists too. At the end of the episode, he takes a big risk in rescuing his wife. This reviewer discusses a little bit about the relationship between Jamie and Claire in this episode. Review of Outlander Episode 108 “Both Sides Now” I do agree with her that the TV show is making their initial relationship a little bit different than from the books. So far, it seems that she does not have real feelings for Jamie yet (unless it is lust?). Is Jamie horny (he is attracted to book Claire’s curvy bum since their first encounter)? I always thought he was a little bit horny at the beginning due to his youth and lack of sexual experience. I liked how the reviewer discusses Claire’s guilt in avoiding looking at Jamie’s ring. I guess the TV show is going to emphasize Claire’s feelings for Jamie after certain events. He is going to show her that he is worth having him as a husband. It think this deviation in the TV show is associated to the addition of the scene in which Claire almost goes back to the 20th century to reunite with Frank. It adds more emotion to the scene. In the books, Frank is less present in Claire’s thoughts than in the TV show when she is getting married to Jamie and even afterwards. At least, that is how I perceived it when reading the first book. I think it is time to note also some similarities and differences between Jamie and Frank. These similarities / differences do not have to be exact since they are different people. I will be modifying them or even adding new ones as the TV show progresses. My idea here is to establish how divergent or similar Claire’s husbands could be based on their actions.
- So far they both care about Claire. However, it will be fun in the long run to determine who genuinely cares about her.
- They both raise children that are not their own (sorry for the spoiler). I will comment more about this once the second season starts (in two years from now?).
- They are both good fighters. It seems that Frank knows how to punch pretty well.
“No, Clair. Really, I’d like to, but I’ve told you how I feel about adoption. It’s just …. I couldn’t feel properly toward a child that’s not …..well, not of my blood. No doubt that’s ridiculous and selfish of me, but there it is. Maybe I’ll change my mind in time, but now…..” (“Outlander” 26).“I want our child. You’re the most important thing in the world to me. I want you to be happy, above all else, but I want …..well, I want to keep you to myself. I’m afraid a child from outside, one we had no real relationship with, would seem an intruder, and I’d resent it. But to be able to give you a child, see it grow in you, see it born ….then I’d feel as though it were more an ….. extension of you, perhaps. And me. A real part of the family.”His eyes were wide, pleading (“Outlander” 26).
Claire, his own Claire – who knew what had sent her to him, had thrust her into a life she had surely not been born to? And yet she had known what to do, what she was meant to be, despite that. Not everyone was so fortunate as to know their gift. (“Voyager” 188)
“You’ve known forever who you are. Do you realize at all how unusual it is to know that?” (“Voyager” 105)
“I haven’t got that,” he said quietly at last. “I’m good, all right. At what I do-the teaching, the writing. Bloody splendid sometimes, in fact. And I like it a good bit, enjoy what I do. But the thing is-” He hesitated, then look at me straight on, hazel-eyed and earnest. “I could do something else, and be as good. Care as much, or as little. I haven’t got that absolute conviction that there’s something in life I’m meant to do – and you have.” (“Voyager” 106)
He had been born a leader, then bent and shaped further to fit such a destiny. But what of a man who had not been born to the role he was required to fill? John Grey, for one. Charles Stuart for another. (“Voyager” 189)