As to the parentage of Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister, here's the following (SPOILERS FROM THE BOOKS- DON'T READ PAST THIS POINT):

Here the multiple Jon Snow theories: http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Jon_Snow/Theories

As to Tyrion Lannister, here's a pro/con discussion: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/53017-tyrion-as-a-targaryen/

All said, I think Jon Snow is the legitimate son of Rheagar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. There is no direct evidence of this but a ton of circumstantial evidence from the novels.

As to Tyrion, he's a smaller (but cleverer and more humane) version of Tywin. While there is some weak evidence that he's the son of Aerys (the Mad) Targaryen, I think all said he's clearly Tywin's son. If anyone is illegitimate in the Lannister family its Cersie and Jaime (though I think this is unlikely also).

Cheers.

I'm highly suspicious now as in the books Tyrion has white blonde hair ala Sexylady and in the show brown.

Guess we'll find out when they catch fire.

LOL, the submarine is rising... Well done to Villareal, hopefully they can stay there.

Who?

surely John Snows going to become a bigger player now he's stopped fannying about north of the wall.

Him, the imp and dragonbabe are clearly the main characters. They've been mainstays in the story all the way through so far and seem to get the most screen time.

I do wanna know who Snows mother is as that's obviously a key part of the show, given he's discussed it so often.

Another aspect is the imp. i watched the series one episode today where Ned is looking at the fat kings heritage. black hair all the way through till joffrey and something dawned on me. All the lannisters are blonde except the imp.

I know what I think it is having watched season one again?

Happy days as one of them deserves a death. I'm just hoping it's the season finale.

Yes, Arya is the girl pretending to be a boy. They've softened her character a bit as she's more violent without remorse in the book, but HBO I think is beginning to show that change in her personality (initially high spirited and fun loving to a cold killer).

The book only implies Robb Stark made Jon his heir (an argument with Caitlyn Stark over it, then a scene with him signing papers with her looking on out of sorts and then messengers heading north with the papers) though I agree its pretty clear he did. I haven't seen a reference to it in the HBO show, though all it will take is a reference from the Blackfish or Edmure in the next episode or two to clarify it.

I personally agree with you that they should reinforce the brutality of what is going on, but a lot of people (including my wife) are at the upper limit of what they can tolerate. I think HBO is striking the right balance.

Out of curiosity then as you've read the books and I've only ordered them so far, will I get to see tyrion and tywin's goodbye scene in the next episode? I'm assuming it comes fairly quickly in the book after what happened last episode and I'm dead keen to see it as Tywin's a @#/?.

As to Tyrion, what was more "grey" about him than the show? The books were very clear that Tyrion, despite being a drunken womanizer, was basically a highly intelligent good man. Ditto the show. Neither portray him as a saint.

Jon was repeatedly "punked" by his elders and Ygritte in the books. It was not until the battle for Castle Black that he really begins to come into his own as a warrior and leader. And remember he sent Ghost away in the books when he was with the wildlings, for the simple reason that wolves can't climb 700' tall walls. So yes, his connection was mostly non-existent during this time ) other than his "wolf" dreams.

HBO did soften Arya's time in Harrenhal. Largely I think as most audiences wouldn't be able to tolerate the day in and day out horror she experienced there. On HBO did show it, in flashes and glimpses (heads on spikes, men being tortured and others in chains is a fairly good indication of what Harrenhal was like to the viewers without dwelling on it).

And I quite liked Tywin's and Arya's interaction. Spiritually, they were the two closest connected characters in the books, as both are highly intelligent, psychopathic killers who were devoted to their families and completely willing to avenge any slight no matter how small. Their scenes clearly established that while Arya hated the Lannisters and will doubtless wreck her bloody revenge on them as she grows older, she is essentially following in the footsteps of Tywin (albeit it in a more direct way as Tywin hires out his work).

Is Arya the boy/girl stark wondering around with The burnt faced knight? She doesn't strike me a psychopath although she gave the pig trader a right good smack in the last episode.

Out of curiousity did Rob Stark insist that Snow was made his heir as per the book? Also have they made any reference to Snows heritage? Or the dwarf's?

I think they should have shown the brutality in all it's glory just look at how they started the scence at the wedding, that was savage.

Cheerd for the big effin star trek 2 spoiler maj

I was hoping to catch it this week.(nevermind, im more of a starwars fan anyway)

P.s. My gues as to how thrones ends without kniwing anything of the books, is that all the families will die one way or another and their world/civilisation as it is will come to an end.

Sorry mate, deleted the comment so others won't suffer your fate. I haven't seen it as yet only my old man has and he's a right wind-up merchant and knows that that sort of plot would see me walk out of the movie. Go watch it as my old mans most likely on the wind-up.

What do you define as "high literary standard"?

Season 1 was outstanding television, because it remained faithful to the books. Everything after it has been a complete mess, but I guess if you haven't read the series you don't know any better.

This is always one of my pet hates, just like lord of the rings and the way they left out the shire at the end. That was the whole point of their journey.

The HBO series has departed from the book series in some ways, but it has kept the themes and high (and low) points intact. Which I think is wise, as the novels have done remarkably well for a reason. The Red Wedding is a case in point. Other than the identity and background of Robb's Queen, it was true to the novels. And the discrepancies with Robb's Queen is not an important issue, as GRRM essentially wrote her out of the novels (per Jaime's viewpoint) so her TV fate changes nothing of significance.

As to GRRM completing the novel series before the book series, I think he will for three reasons. First, some of the books (such as Storm of Swords) is actually being broken in two which creates a bit of a buffer. Second, GRRM is completely finished with 25% of the next book (edits and all) and is rumored to be well into the balance of the book. GRRM is one of those writers who spent an inordinate amount of time working his way through plot points (such as the "Meereneese Knot") followed by completing hundreds of pages in an incredibly short period. Third (and last) GRRM strikes me as incredibly money oriented (and there is nothing wrong with that) and I suspect the HBO series is very lucrative for him. He'll find a way to ensure everything is complete before the television show.

And for the record, I'm a fan of the Jon, Arya and Tyrion character arcs. To date, the show has been very faithful to these three characters.

I'd still like to see Tyrion without his nose as in the books, lol. My fav character is without doubt the dragon lady (HOT) and I can't help but think she'll be the main character at the end but that seems rather obvious. Very kean to see how the 'others' fit into the story arc as I assume they'll be coming over the wall in the next books?

I just hope he doesn't rush things to meet TV's deadlines as that would probably take away from the book series.

Anyway very much looking forward to the next episode as I assume there's more death to come and the next one I actually want to see die brutally as I can't stand him/her.

Game Of Thrones is outstanding television.

i am curious to know what's going to happen as it progresses. The book series author seems to take about 5 years to write one novel and he still has two to go to finish the storyline. I wonder if he'll get finished in time for the TV series.

Last night's Game Of Thrones. Wow .... just wow. Having not (yet) read the books I never saw THAT coming - took me a good 30 mins to digest it properly afterwards! Outstanding stuff - easily the best thing on TV by a country mile for me.

Aye it was certainly a surprise and a brutal one at that, the red wedding. It promoted me to have a read of all the books plotlines and there's even better to come. Can't wait for next weeks monday breakfast viewing.

Losing the will to watch Game of Thrones. What they've done with the source material is horrendous.

Are the books good?

You should be working for the LT Bob.

RIP

We're bringing it on. Believe me. It's time for the phoney war to come to an end. I may not easily become animated ( ) but when I do ...

Are we getting a BRFCS cartoon????

Cool.

Agreed. For every Blackpool and Palace there is a QPR, Leicester or Plymouth. He made a name for himself due to his comedy value with outrageous sayings which the media loved but he couldn't see that people weren't taking him seriously.

You think Holloway did a bad job at Plymouth?

they almost made the prem.

I just wanted to add a couple of points which Steve Claridge [no; I can't normally stand him, either!] made in commentary on Radio 5 last night which nobody else seems to have quoted on here:

1] We've had a lot of bad luck with injuries, with CKR's being just the latest. Now; some of them may be what we'd think of as "injuries" and those injured players may not have made a lot of difference "cometh the hour"; but firstly Appleton's, then Bowyer's, hands have been somewhat tied when it came to team selection;

2] he made a very favourable comment on Goodwillie's part in our first goal, in terms of him making a dummy run and distracting some of the opposition defenders.

As regards whether Bowyer should be appointed permanent mananger [whatever that means at Ewood!], I write this as someone who is distinctly not "itk".

What we've got to remember is where we are, just above the relegation zone in Division 2-really, and the reputation we have under our present owners - did anyone else squirm as much as I did last night when Radio 5 played the Muppet tune behind the timeline of what's happened to us? We're highly unlikely to attract a high-calibre unemployed manager; what I think we need is to appoint someone who's comparatively young, and hungry to make a reputation [maybe a bit like Howard Kendall circa 1979]. Who's to say Bowyer wouldn't be such an appointment? At least he knows the set-up. I agree, though, that there's a lot of work to be done in pre-season on the players' fitness.

Finally, stating the bleeding obvious, there's got to be a serious clear-out of players who aren't fit for the Championship next season. Going back to Steve Claridge last night, he was clinical in his analysis of Markus Olsson's worth to the team!

Injuries bad luck???? Bad preperation, bad planning, poor knowledge etc etc etc Sports Science at Rovers is rubbish.

how long?

This long.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OG. He'll not be far away from being our second highest scorer thie season now. I now expect OG to be out for the next two games with a "sore eye" or such like.

Where's it scone???

Is this on TV? 2 - 1 Rovers

Doesn't look like it but you can catch Kidderminster V Wrexham?????????

Rovers fans woken up: "Givet Givet etc".

COYB....we need 3 points tonight.

The commentator just keeps saying 'Givet again', which says it all really.

My thoughts and feelings go out to the Family Kelvin leaves behind.

I had the pleasure of knowing Kelvin and meeting him and without doubt he was a true footballing man and will be sorely missed. Football was his life, you could see he derived so much pleasure from it all and that he gave that back in spades. Blackburn Rovers football club ran through his veins, the pride in his voice when he spoke of Rovers was unmistakable and his passion was clear, it pains me that he's departed with Rovers as they are. You'll be missed mate. But if there's one thing I knew about Kelvin for fact it's that one aspect of his life filled him with absolute joy and always made him smile and that was speaking about his family. He spoke with pride and joy about his kids, what they have achieved and the lives they have dug out for themselves, he was a proud father and rightly so. His love & devotion for his wife was clear and I wish her well in this difficult time, my thoughts are with you and your family.

Kelvin you were a good man, I'm pleased to have met you and know that you'll be missed by many but more importantly you'll be remembered and remembered well.

Rest in Peace mate.

Indeed it does Cocker, can't wait and about time.

Finally got around to watching the much hyped 'The Hangover'. It was entertaining in a way, but I was genuinely surprised by the lack of laugh out loud moments. I think the naked Chinese dude attacking them from the boot was the only giggle I had.

You'll love part two then.

Surely it's time for the football authorities in England to look at this again after so many years.

Especially when rugby league or rugby union games (even if played at football grounds) are not subject to the same restrictions.

The world has moved on since the Football Offences Act 1991 - but at any football match in England - even behind glass in a box or lounge - it remains an offence to drink beer anywhere in view of the pitch. They even draw curtains in the boxes at most grounds, so there is a "back" area where you can retreat to have a sup, leave your beer on the hidden table, and go back through the curtain to watch the game again.

Yet in Germany, every punter in every stadium can buy pints (OK half-litres) of the local brew without even leaving their seats.

I could see it working in a civilised country like Scotland but in yobbish uncultured England I'm not too sure it would be as pleasent as you experienced in germany.