re: Game of Thrones S6:E6 "Blood of My Blood" (reader thread) (NO LEAKS!)

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because I don't see anyway that Ned told anyone, including Benjen.

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Benjen is Ned's only remaining sibling. It's not too far beyond belief that he and Ned had a heart-to-heart late one night (maybe after many drinks).

I don't know if he would have told Benjen, but Benjen was around to see most of the lead up to Lyanna's "kidnapping." He is at the tournament at Harrenhal with Brandon, Ned, and Lyanna. He knows (and presumably loved Lyanna). At the end of that tragic saga Ned and Benjen are the last two living Stark men.

It makes some sense Ned may have told Benjen. It may explain why Benjen takes such interest in Jon.

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I took it as he was removed from the KG completely. The removal of all the armor looked pretty symbolic and Tommen's speech seemed to say "I don't care what you do, but you won't do it as a member of the King's Guard any longer".

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It strongly recalled Ser Barristan's dismissal from the King's Guard by Joffrey back in the day.

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It strongly recalled Ser Barristan's dismissal from the King's Guard by Joffrey back in the day.

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Somewhat. At the start of the scene some of the KG were helping Jaime get the armor off. Ser Barristan threw his shite down then pretty much dared the KG members present to challenge him

I thought that the whole "know what you are giving up" was more Benjen wryly commenting on his own childless state. Why Benjen joined the Night's Watch in the first place is something I've never totally understood, though I can't find any logical way it connects to the rest of this discussion.

Benjen does go out of his way to be collegial with Jon, which could just be a normal uncle thing, could be Benjen taking interest in a recruit, or maybe he understands something of Jon's history.

When Ned rides off he says to Jon something to the effect of "we can talk about your parentage when I get back." Obviously that never comes to pass, but Ned didn't say "talk to Benjen when you get to the wall" or anything like that.

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Why Benjen joined the Night's Watch in the first place is something I've never totally understood

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What if he was pissed at Robert, blamed him (at least partly) for his family's death and rather than be a traitor or less than fully "Stark mode [on]" loyal, he took the black?

I'm just speculating, but makes as much sense as anything else.

What I never understood was all this resentment from some of the leadership of the Watch when Jon arrives. He's a bastard, yes, but the son (ostensibly) of Ned Stark and the nephew of Benjen. He's Winterfell trained and a great asset, but they gave him shite. I guess if Benjen hadn't disappeared so early in his career, things might have gone differently. Of course, had he survived the ranging and the battle at Craster's Keep, he would have become Lord Commander (in all likelihood) and not Jon.

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Game of Thrones S6:E6 "Blood of My Blood" (reader thread) (NO LEAKS!)
Could go a couple of ways depending on Margaery's intentions. If this is her power play (and by extension a Tyrell power play) then they probably stick around. If Margaery is a sincere convert (or just doesn't trust her family anymore) then I would guess Mace gets shipped off to deal with Dorne.

Margaery's first goal should be getting knocked up.

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Given the projected short time remaining to complete the series, this was actually a predictable move by the writers. No need to spend precious time with Crown vs Faith infighting. They appear to be ignoring the tension with Dorne since Tommen is sending Jamie North to retake Riverrun and most of the focus from here on out will be on Winter coming and the invasion of the white walkers and wights.

My wild guess is that Jon will gather enough support from Stark-loyal factions in the North to defend Riverrun and then take the combined force North to defeat Ramsay at Winterfell. Yes, Jamie will be defeated because let's face it his attitude about the entire situation is about as bad as it gets; he's anything but fired up about recapturing Riverrun. The best part will be the Frey's getting their comeuppance.

After that, the wight invasion will likely begin to overwhelm the Black Watch and Jon's forces. Jon will have to retreat South about the time that Daenarys begins her invasion of Westeros. Daenarys' forces and her dragons will kick the shite out of both the Lannisters and Tyrells.

Jon will at some point treat with Daenarys to seek her aid vs the wight invasion which will be stopped with the help of her dragons roasting the wights into crispy-critters. I fully expect wildfire to be used as well. Daenarys will marry Jon and become the new High Queen; Targaryens will again rule Westeros. Sansa will become the Warden of the North in Winterfell. Theon will be redeemed after his instrumental role in an alliance with the Iron Islands who provided the ships that Daenarys needed. Daenarys will either form an alliance with Dorne or land there and defeat them and move up from the South through Dorne towards Kings Landing; the Dothraki will feel right at home in Dorne.

Tyrion and Varys will continue to serve Daenarys and now Jon after their instrumental role in negotiating with the Iron Born to acquire the use of their ships and in providing the landing site in Dorne strategy. Little-Finger will likely die a miserable death after playing both sides once too often. Jamie and Cersei will die in each others arms in Kings Landing as Arya runs them through with Needle. Tommen and Margery will surrender to Daenarys and be sparred as defenders of the faith. Melisandre will redeem her failed visions through sacrifice in destroying the Night King.

That's all I can pull out of my arse for now.

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Reed

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his conspicuous absence

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Et tu, Blute? Is anybody left on this crack train?

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Sam and Gilly is the worst thing the show has ever done. They're going to end up wasting a tenth of this season two of the most boring, lame, uncharasmatic characters in the book/show.

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I would love for Sam's dad to get stabbed by a White Walker, and as he lies there dying, he sees Sam then kill that same White Walker with the sword he stole.