You know for people who are drastically running out of material, they're being a bit elitist in what they deem worthy to include or not. Cutting out the ENTIRE Iron Islands subplot is a major mistake on their part, since it's a really interesting look at characters who they have completely shafted in the series (and, you know, are sort of important to several main plot lines down the line) and ignoring enough great material to fill a few episodes with. Not to mention them completely negating the Martells' views on female inheritance by taking Arianne completely out of the show just so they can put another pretty boy with no relevance to the story in the forefront. It's lazy, terrible writing and casting.

I personally hated the Iron Islands plot line, couldn't care less about the awful Greyjoy brothers, the only saving grace from that storyline are Theon and Asha and we have them (I also liked Rodrick the Reader but he's a really minor character). RE Trystane, some people are speculating that he might play the part of the young Griff. It kind of makes sense if you want to condense characters. The Martells hiding the Young Griff makes a lot of sense and can incorporate Varys and Master Ilyrio as well.

I also don't care about the Iron Islands plot line much. But there is also the budgetary side of things, the main characters already have actors cast. They can cover a major bit of Iron Islands in a later season using a few episodes, or just do exposition - have characters discuss the happenings there and we then meet the survivors from that plot line when needed to be merged with the main story lines.

What I should have explained is that to bring in a host of new characters from the Iron Island plot, will require fallowing current actors for a season or two. They would lose an impeccable cast of actors.

I'm completely indignant about the Arianne omission.

I know. She's a pivotal character in the novels but in D&D's estimation not so much.

How do we know she's a pivotal character? The answer is we don't. Arianne could die on her way to FAegon for all we know. I don't think D & D would omit her if she was going to play a major role on what comes next.

Because she's Doran's heir; because she's going to meet A (first initial only) at the beginning of The Winds of Winter as Doran's emissary. That's just a couple of reasons. Those plot points might be delivered by another character which raises the question as to why? She's involved in all of the major Dornish action. This is another stupid decision by D&D.

Aegon is gone, so Arianne's future role becomes redundant.

They're probably just trying to cut down the number of actors. If we get all 3 Sand Snakes, it's hard to have a problem with them cutting Arianne.

Except the Sand Snakes are irrelevant until WoW.

They could have had Arianne and two Sand Snakes instead, also.

Another notable cut is Quentyn. Rumour has it Trystan is not only replacing Arianne, but also QUentyn (rather than Young Griff).

hmm, I didn't know about that rumor. If it's true, it seems these guys are really determined to speed up the story. But, you've gotta admit, it's easy to understand why they'd cut Quentyn.

I quite liked Quentyn's story since his fate was so horrific and was another blow to the Lannister's opposition.

Btw the rumour comes as there is no news of anyone being cast as Quentyn despite the fact that the Dorne cast have all been revealed, and the fact that Trystane is advertised as the heir to Dorne.

The Sand Snakes aren't heir to Dorne.

I think they are cutting A (first initial only) in order to simplify the story and get it done in 7 seasons, and Arianne is the collateral damage, because her storyline is closely related to his.

You know for people who are drastically running out of material, they're
being a bit elitist in what they deem worthy to include or not. Cutting
out the ENTIRE Iron Islands subplot is a major mistake on their part,
since it's a really interesting look at characters who they have
completely shafted in the series (and, you know, are sort of important
to several main plot lines down the line) and ignoring enough great
material to fill a few episodes with.

That's the thing, though: they aren't "drastically running out of material". They're close to finishing up the published material, but GRRM has given them the outline of the rest of the show, and there's no chance the remaining books will be out in time for the writing/producing (though they may have access to what pieces of Book 6 currently exist).

The show is running for seven seasons. They've been very consistent on that for the last while. That means they have to be more or less done with books four and five by the end of season five, to cover condensed versions of the plots of books six and seven in seasons six and seven. So stuff is going to have to go.

I agreed with you completely until you presented the seven seasons thing as fact. Yes, there is speculation that the show will run for seven seasons, but there is also speculation that it will run much longer (I've heard rumors of 10 seasons). The showrunners do have access to other materials but GRRM has also stated that he doesn't want to get far beyond the books because then the show is basically just a big spoiler. My guess is that seasons five and six will explore AFFC and ADWD and start getting into WOW material.

No, it is not "speculation". The showrunners have said it will run seven seasons, a figure that has now begun to be repeated by people at HBO, directors, etc. They started out saying that it would be seven or eight seasons, with "80 episodes" being given on multiple occasions, but in the last six months or so there has been a decisive shift to saying that the show will run seven seasons.

The "rumours of 10 seasons" are pure fancy.

For instance, the walk of shame is this season, which covers all of Cersei's book material. There is not going to be significant AFFC/ADWD material left over for season 6.

I'd love to see a source that isn't a speculation website. Right now you have no credibility and you're angry we're not trusting you.

What's a "speculation website", pray tell? My sources are interviews with the show's production staff, including the writers. And I have no idea why you think I'm "angry". I'm merely stating facts, as are by now well-understood by anyone who's actually following news relating to the show.

Have to agree with Sean_C. All the interviews I've read with the show runners have strongly pointed to the show only being 7 seasons. Some interviews have shown them being slightly open to 8 seasons, but there is no chance of it running for 9 or 10 seasons. While they love GoT they do want to move on and do other things.

I've seen more interviews suggesting a seven season maximum but I haven't seen ANY interviews that 100 percent rule out the show extending beyond that. And show length aside, I completely disagree with the assertion that the show will utilize "condensed" versions of the sixth and seventh books. If the show does end after seven seasons, my guess is that it will not match the end of the book series. GRRM will not allow the show to be a spoiler for the books.

He didn't sound angry. EW has a lot of articles with interviews by the producers and writers of the show. Rather than argue, just search everything GoT in the site.

I know you think you're more informed than others, but you simply aren't. You're repeating information you've heard and others are repeating information they've heard. Literally everything discussed in this article is PURE SPECULATION at this point. Move on.

I'm repeating information provided by the people who make the show. It has nothing to do with the contents of this article.

Right. I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing...LOL.

You're making assumptions - just like ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is doing with this ridiculous article - that the Iron Islands story is being eliminated. There's no proof of it whatsoever. For all we know it's either included (and filmed - remember, they don't film everything in public venues) or part of season six when Dany finally makes her move on Westeros. Have a little faith.

Victarion was gone the minute that Daario saved 93 Meereenese ships during the Conquest of Meereen, exactly the same number with which Victarion departed towards Meereen. That cannot possibly be a coincidence. Vic is gone, even if Euron appears in season 6. As for the Iron Islands subplot being gone, the authorof this article has commented: "I asked the producers last season if they were doing Dorne and Iron Islands in season 5. They said they were doing one of them. Later they announced they were doing Dorne… I’m not saying S5 won’t have any Iron Islands scenes, only that my understanding is the big book 4 subplot isn’t a part of S5."

Their own thing is a pale imitation of the books and full of stupid inconsistencies, e.g. Robb being a selfish ass and marrying some Volantene broad; Robb marrying in the light of the Seven; Robb standing and gawking like an idiot as his pregnant wife is stabbed to death. Okay, I'll admit it: I detest the changes they made to Robb because they fail the test of simple logic whether you've read the books or not. The show is fun but after next season, I'm done until A Dream of Spring has been published, and I've read it. I do not want these putzes spoiling the ending to a series I've been waiting 6+ years to read its conclusion. I know I'll be happy with GRRM's ending. D&D? We shall see, but they get my sloppy seconds, attention wise.

Robb marrying Talisa for love is in the end the same as Robb marrying Jeyne Westerling to maintain her honor. In the light of things, the move was just not tactical when that is what it neeed to be. Robb was never a main character and either way, I don't think you can judge either book Robb or TV Robb very harshly for making the decision, considering how young the character is. He made a huge mistake and paid for it in a very unjust way.

No, it isn't and this is crucial to the pile of crap that became of Robb Stark's story, save for the Red Wedding. He was wounded and nursed back to health by Jeyne and fell in love with her and married her out of his sense of honour since he'd taken her maidenhead. He marries Talisa because that's what little Robbie Wobbie wants. Pathetic. In the case of Jeyne W., he is his father's son; in the case of Talisa, he's a selfish git who berates his mother for questioning his selfish decision. That's not consistent with his character. The cherry on this turd souffle was their marriage in the light of the Seven.

Yes, I feel the same way. Besides, the maidenhead hing, Jeyne is a Westerling, an old and prestigious house in the Westerlands, and so, he was hoping to gather support from the other Westerlands Houses.

When Robb forsake his vow and married someone not a Frey, he make an utterly mistake. Is easier to understand his reasons in the books, than in the TV series.

No, in the show he also married her to preserve her honor, in addition to being in love with her. Other than all the further on JW stuff, the Robb-marriage storyline tracks a lot closer than you are stating.

The chapter revealing Robb's reasons for marrying was a Tyrion one (with his father and uncle present). Robb married her because he had sex with her, and to keep her honor intact, he sacrificed his own (by breaking his oath to Lord Frey and marrying the girl).

No, the chapter where Robb talks about his motives was a Catelyn chapter, naturally. Tywin could only make guesses why Robb did this or that.

That's not true. He describes the events in the 2nd Catelyn chapter, but doesn't get into motives (aside from saying it was the honorable thing to do). At the end of the 3rd Tyrion chapter, his father & uncle are the ones who really made it clear.

What the hell are you talking about?! ROBB talks about his own motivations at length to his mother in Catelyn II. He talks about his love for Jeyne ("I took her castle and she took my heart"), about love making people do rash things (hinting that what he did and what she did with Jaime are similar things so she should not judge him), he talks about how she comforted him when he got the news about Bran's and Rickon's deaths and he makes the point that it was "honorable" to marry her after having slept with her.

Tywin and Kevan talk about Robb, yes, but they're just talking about what they think. How the hell can they know anything about Robb's motivations, let alone know it better than Robb himself?! Do you think Robb sent Tywin, his enemy, a raven with his deepest intimate thoughts about his marriage? Don't you see how ludicrous your argument is?

I am confused. By the time Robb married in either medium, he's dad was long dead. What is your point? Name change of wife or not, the reason for him marrying remains consistent. The reason for his downfall remain consistent.
The fact that he was a brilliant military commander remain consistent. The fact that he was not politically mature remains consistent. In fact in the books he was a teenager, in the TV show, he's in his 20s, How can you be so harsh? And as Daniela stated, his mistake cost dearly, not only to him, but to his clan and the whole of the North.

But that does not make the character awful. Sometimes in life, what is to be a personal decision, due to our status in life, affects more than we think, and it takes experience (self or others) or a really good life coach/teacher to show us. Even though most of our bad decisions which seemingly started as small, may not kill us like Robb's did, if we do have a 20/20 take, we may never make those decisions for our personal comfort or happiness, we sacrifice.

If Robb's parents had taught him values beyond honor and military tactics, but also how to assess allies and enemies etc, the book would have gone differently. But you see he didn't have that and he was in the limelight when his mom tried to instill those lessons in a short time.
His younger siblings, had less responsibilities thrust on them initially, so they are learning the hard way: Bran the Seer; Jon Snow the black cloak wearer, from lowly to leader; Sansa from idealistic wide-eyed to committee manipulator of murder, Aria from carefree to assassin...

Both in life and in literature, we must learn to judge characters, their choices and behaviors, by context. Few things in life have a clear path.

Who's disputing that Robb's dad is dead? It was Tyrion's dad & uncle who explained the reason for the marriage in the book, which was vastly different than the show. The show's reasoning is completely unrealistic, with Robb forsaking his oath and losing his thousands of Frey men for "love". Whereas in the book, he didn't see any other choice but to marry the girl.

I also believe the changes to Robb's storyline were also due to efficiency/cost. If they kept the Jeyne Westerling plot in tact they would have had to spend time and money on the battle of the Crag, Robb taking the castle, getting injured, getting nursed to health by Jeyne leading to his decision to sleep with her and marry her. Having him meet Talisa on the battlefield as a nurse, in their minds, achieved the same end. In one version he breaks his vow fo honor and TV he breaks it for love.

The thing is they didn't need to follow the book exactly. What they needed to do is not change the story in such a way as to make it, well, really stupid. But that's what they did as Elicit D Goat-Horsefly correctly states. Just one of many additions that were poorly written, pointless and insulting to the viewers intelligence. Like the Craster battle and a number of other changes. I confess, I'm often just perplexed by the tone deafness of the writing.

Elicit, I'm with you: if they get to the end of the GRRM written text I'll stop watching till the books are complete. There's always DVDs. I don't think we'll be alone.

Wait...they're leaving out the Iron Islands subplot? That's like half the book.

If by "half the book" you mean "5 of 46 chapters".

I'd like to think they'd at least need to touch on some of the events in the Iron Islands, even if it's not needed to introduce some of the other Ironborn just yet

Perpetuating the rumor that LS won't appear is completely ridiculous, given that the article claims to "debunk" rumors. If she appears, it will be in the huge Brienne scene, which hasn't occurred yet. It's just dumb to assert that it's not happening, especially since her existence is so important to Brienne's decisions (given Brienne's previous oath).

It really bugs me when everyone gets all angsty about LS not appearing in season four, as if it was a slap in the face to book readers, etc. Think about it: there was absolutely no exposition in season four to suggest there was something coming like LS.

But for those who insist she's dead and buried (and use the actress' comments as some sort of proof - remember, she might very well be under a non-disclosure agreement), I ask you to remember this: Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion. The ONLY REASON for that plot line to have occurred - the only reason for them to have even appeared in the Riverlands during season three, the only reason for all of the exposition about Beric's multiple deaths and resurrections, and Thoros doing the deed of bringing him back - was to set up the LS situation. Without LS, that plot line just… dies. That was wasted character and plot without it.

The producers are playing a long game here. They knew it would take more than just a simple freaky flash out of nowhere. I could be very wrong, but I'm thinking we'll see a lot of Brienne traipsing through the Riverlands in season five (now that she's lost Arya, and back on Sansa's trail), and we'll hear about the new leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners. We'll probably see the Blackfish running the band in place of its true leader… And, contrary to some random soul seeing LS last year which would have been almost nonsensical… we'll see Brienne face LS in the season five finale.

There's such a thing as structure, and drama, and good writing, and the guys running Game of Thrones have demonstrated time and again they have what it takes. Trust them.

"The ONLY REASON for that plot line to have occurred - the only reason for them to have even appeared in the Riverlands during season three, the only reason for all of the exposition about Beric's multiple deaths and resurrections, and Thoros doing the deed of bringing him back - was to set up the LS situation."

Possible spoiler...

It is speculated that this ability of R'hilor to resurrect the dead will be used by Melisandre to resurrect Jon Snow. So that is what could be getting set up here instead of LS. (I say possible spoiler since Jon Snow is severely injured but not confirmed dead in the books.)

Eric Klien: That is completely fair, and something I did not consider.

I still think, however, we're going to see LS. I don't see them as having given all that screen time to Beric and Thoros for this to happen, when Melisandre's mystical powers could have been elaborated upon through dialogue (or a throwaway scene somewhere).

Thank you. Admittedly, i am one of those book readers who was irate at LS's omission, but your argument re: the Brotherhood w/o Banners being wasted unless she is later introduced has given me hope. I dont really have an opinion on when she should be introduced, but I do agree with Brienne's journey leading in that direction hopefully soon!