^Great post HR.
I love talking asoiaf/GoT... so immersed in it as a guy that went from Season1/2 show watcher to read Books1/2/3, then watch Season 3, then read 4/5, then watch 4/5... then re-read ALL FIVE... then watch Season 6.
As a book reader, I'm impressed with the producers, they've done a good job.
They can always stake Jon's claim to the throne in Season 7/8 by bringing out the Rhaegar/Lyanna storyline further.
It's humourous because Jon has no stake to Winterfell (Bran, then Sansa), but he does have stake to throne, if he is eldest surviving male of RhaegarT.
Now that they have "young Ned", they can very easily to a few more flash backs to the Tournament at Harrenhal and capture that towards the fans.
The end King in both shows/book... Tyrion. Write it in pen.
Martin is a foreshadower and there is no clearer foreshadowing (pun intended) than the end sentence in one of the first chapters of GoT (book).
I don't remember if it is Tyrion's chapter or Jon's chapter... but they do converse outside of the Winterfell hall about bastards/imps/etc. "...stood tall as a king."
Extracted from Tyrion I, Chapter 9 (GoT):
“You are your mother's trueborn son of Lannister."
"Am I?" the dwarf replied, sardonic. "Do tell my lord father. My mother died birthing me, and he's never been sure."
"I don't even know who my mother was," Jon said.
"Some woman, no doubt. Most of them are." He favored Jon with a rueful grin. "Remember this, boy. All dwarfs may be bastards, yet not all bastards need be dwarfs."
And with that he turned and sauntered back into the feast, whistling a tune.
When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king.”
Some speculate that Tyrion is offspring of MadKingAerys-Joanna... but I speculate Rhaegar-Joanna... because then Rhaegar could have three kids that would be Tyrion/Jon-Dany.
Back to show:
Margaery was super actress. I will miss her, she did a great job for her 5-6 seasons.
Euron will probably still show up with his fleet of ships. I expect a battle on the water between Euron & Asha/TheonGreyjoys/Dany/Tyrells/Martells.
This may be key scene where Dany/Tyrion (maybe Missandei) all mount same dragon together to escape.
Dothraki in Westeros may be too much of a headache.
Though Dothraki/Unsulled vs. Lannisters/CityWatch/Kingsguard would make for EPIC, EPIC, end of Season 7 battle.
That would leave WhiteWalkers/Dragons/Humans battle for Season 8.
Arya is gonna gun for a few more on her list.
Here's the list: Joffrey. Cersei. Walder Frey. Meryn Trant. Tywin Lannister. The Red Woman. Beric Dondarrion. Thoros of Myr. Ilyn Payne. The Mountain. The Hound.
She just sliced Walder.
Season 7 will probably have her show up to visit the Red Woman and then Beric/Thoros.
Then the Mountain/R.Strong... and finally Cersei... you can write that in pen too. She has different lists in books/show... and I think they edited that once upon a time...
https://www.reddit.com/r/gameofthron..._list_and_why/
Sam will probably dig up some lineage and dragon-slaying info in Oldtown.
Or perhaps he'll capture the secret to stopping the WhiteWalkers... IDK.
How GRRM/HBO play with the three key factions: Humans, WhiteWalkers, Dragon... it'll be interesting.
I'm really impressed with the show. I thought they'd really screw up Martin's direction - but they've done a solid job... except for killing Bran's direwolf - still annoyed about that.
The wolf's name is Summer, after all... they've got to get out of Winter... in the end... and Summer represents Bran being the final cog to the end/end game to end the WWs & Winter.
Oh - and another episode without seeing Jon's wolf, Ghost... wtf.