The Winds of Winter is Coming for Sansa Stark

[@elinagel-bennett344]

God, Sansa has such a great story in the books. Beyond excited to see it continue in 2035

[@micow9951]

​​@Monk_Chudwhat's so exciting about her story in season 5 to 8 ? She gets married off to a psycho for some reason, gets raped, runs then kills him it's the most cliche unnecessary shit ever and they try to spin it into "getting abused made me stronger" bullshit she becomes cold and boring as a character because apparently strength is becoming emotionless due to abuse, because you know she's a woman and emotions are a woman's weakness 🙄 Her plot is bullshit in the show in the books Sansa strikes a balance between being a smart pragmatic player and still kind and hopeful Trauma doesn't make you stronger, true strength is facing the world's darkness learning from it but remaining kind and undefiled by it and that's book Sansa a girl who refused to lose to the cynical world of westeros Sure her story doesn't have much action and it's a slow burn and it's clearly far from finished but it's interesting at least to me because Sansa is one of the most relatable characters in the story

[@knightcommander5694]

@Monk_Chudwhat a pathetic bite. In season 1-4 her story is the same as in the first 3 books(she also better written here). After that her story didn’t progress much in the books and in the show her storyline is one of the worst

[@CommanderLongJohn]

​@Monk_Chud Lmfao how exciting, being used by Little Finger, nonsensically given to the Boltons to be raped, then with minimal to no effort ends up becoming the "Queen of the North" which is so wrong and moronic for so many reasons I literally can't fit them in this post without multiple paragraphs. And the cherry on top? Sophie Turner's horrendous acting and insufferable personality. She's not a whole better in the books either but at least her story is ACTUALLY pretty exciting, namely for exposition/world building and what characters around her are doing/saying like Cersei and the Lord's/Knight's in King's Landing, or her time at the Vale with LF. Not to mention, if she actually ends up being a "player" in the game of thrones, it'll result from being ACTUALLY mentored by Little Finger, in the show shite literally just falls right into her lap because 'rape = empowerment'.

[@jakemccarroll9414]

Bold of you at assume we’ll get it that early

[@imrahil9237]

You are overly optimistic about release date :D​@@knightcommander5694

[@quicksave786]

Genuinely, when I rewatch the show I pause at the scene where Little Finger first brings up the idea of Sansa marrying Ramsey in Season 5 episode 2 and stop. It to me is the first instance where the sweetness of the first 4 seasons stops and the shit of the second 4 seasons starts.

[@MCAPrince]

It also just makes ZERO sense for either Littlefinger or Sansa. He can give Jeyne Poole to the Boltons because as a member of a minor house, she just isn't actually that important. Littlefinger is a lot, but he is not careless with Sansa.

[@Dr.Yakub22]

​@@MCAPrince Littlefinger kinda forgot that he actually cares for Sansa

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

That was when I stopped watching the show. That point told me that the writers no longer had any idea what they were doing with the plot, and didn't understand the characters at all past the most shallow levels.

[@johnroach9026]

@@MCAPrince The show kind of forgot about Jeyne Poole

[@notrdy4thisjelly546]

So many people say that season 8 was where it fell off. I'm with you though, post season 4 is all bullshit.

[@samiai8905]

I think the thing that will truly set Sansa on the path to Littlefinger's murder is finding out about Jeyne Poole. She knows it was Petyr who was tasked to take care of her so once she finds out about the Bolton marriage - which on its own is damning and is most definetely being hid from her by Petyr and may be used by Miranda to get Sansa to slip up - than she will face everything she's been burying as piece together Petyr's responsibility in getting her whole family killed

[@QuinnTheGM]

That’s an excellent point!

[@jacobenke7936]

...Except that Jeyne knows Sansa told Cersei about them leaving. Jeyne might want to kill Sansa, which I think could be an interesting way for Sansa to be forced to admit some of the things she unwittingly did. We never get a moment with Sansa where she realizes that her actions have had consequences for others. I'm not saying she's "evil", but she was exceptionally selfish (which is normal) Jeyne and Arya are the two characters with axes to grind and proof to back it up. I honestly see that becoming an issue when Sansa tries to press her claim on WF (or LF tries to for her). If Jeyne speaks to Jon or Arya before Sansa, Sansa could be screwed. Taken with what's likely in Robb's will and why, Jon and Arya's distrust of Sansa will skyrocket. All of that is super tragic to me, and the primary blame lies with Ned and Cat, who are both dead for all intents and purposes.

[@somm150]

@@jacobenke7936What was it Sansa did that can be considered exceptionally selfish? Curious

[@epiphanytorock5284]

@@somm150Same I don't understand, her family didn't die because she told Cersei they were leaving they died because Ned threatened to have her kill or beaten by the king.

[@Hannah-mu1uj]

I recently noticed that every time the phrase “steel kiss” is used in the AGOT, it’s in relation to Littlefinger, Catelyn, and Ned, particularly in relation to “Tyrion’s” dagger that nearly killed Bran. There’s a lot of dialogue between Ned and In ACOK, we get that imagery with Sansa being asked to kiss Joffrey’s sword. In ASOS after LF takes her from KL, he asks her if it’s better to be a dagger her opponent never sees or a dagger they do so. I hope Sansa gives him a steel kiss the next time he tries to steal a kiss, let’s just say that lol

[@ccorvid]

omg yes! please that'd be great

[@Moeller750]

One thing I also love about the Alayne chapter, is that we finally start to see Sansa's potential unfold. It seems small, but we see her taking charge of the household and we see her use her femininity to win over Harry the Heir. Martin seems to lay out two potential paths to power for her: Katlyn's (what Brienne discribes as 'a woman's courage), or Cersei's, which is power through her sexuality. Right now, she has the potential for both

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

There's also the possibility that Sansa will have learned to balance the two and use both. I don't doubt that Olenna Tyrell was skilled at both running a castle (with plenty of any kind of courage!), *and* running the men around her when she was younger. And I can imagine that after everything Sansa's been through, she'll be looking to take power, as it will be her best protection going forward. She's giving me strong Elizabeth I vibes.

[@AlexanderTheMedium]

She's going to channel them both, hopefully. Cat missed Cersei's ruthlessness and cunning.

[@michaelbayer5094]

Doesn't Sansa figure out that Ser Lyn "drawing steel" is just a ploy?

[@carlrood4457]

A big part of Sansa is she never really wanted to be a "Stark" in the traditional sense. She was very much her mother's daughter and much more identified with the the southern/Riverlands ways. She dreamed of marrying a prince and being queen, but in the fairy tale sense. She's learning that real life is harsh, like the conditions in the North.

[@sockosophie3132]

That the that kinda made her disrespect her heritage truly showed her what the quintessential part of her heritage says "Winter is coming" really means, winter is coming for you (and can't escape it). It's poetic

[@Hippo_Hegemony]

I just find it funny that Sansa is the reason her life sucks, because she couldn't keep her dam mouth shut. I can't see any growth in her, she still seems to not have learned the very first lesson she was taught "STOP TELLING PEOPLE SHIT!"

[@mouse3872]

I think something that is important to bring up when it comes to Sansa is the Ashford Theory. In the Hedge Knight, Dunk and Egg go to a tourney held at Ashford to celebrate Lord Ashford's daughter's 13th name-day. Lady Ashford has 5 champions fighting on her behalf and anyone who defeats a champion ends up replacing their opponent as a champion for Lady Ashford. In the end, the 5 champions who end up defending Lady Ashford are: Lyonel Baratheon Leo Tyrell Tybolt Lannister Humfrey Hardyng Prince Valarr Targaryen When you look at the names of the champions' families and the fact they fight for a 13 year old maid, especially with the family Hardyng, we find out that they correspond strongly with Sansa's suitors in A Song of Ice and Fire. Sansa's first betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon Sansa's then planned to be wed to Willas Tyrell Sansa's married to Tyrion Lannister Sansa's now being betrothed to Harry Hardyng Which could mean that Faegon could potentially be the next potential marriage for Sansa. This actually fits pretty well too. Faegon could promise a marriage to Arriane Martell upon meeting her but after taking Kings Landing Faegon breaks the betrothal off for Sansa with influemce from either Connington or Varys. After all Sansa makes way more sense for a political marriage due to Sansa having blood ties to The North (being a Stark), the Riverlands(Niece of the current heir to Riverrun and Great Niece to the Blackfish), and the Vale (Cousin and caretaker of the current Heir to the Vale.) This too pretty much continues the trend of things not going to plan for Doran and Dorne suffering the consequences for it. Potentially leading to Doran choosing to out Faegon as a Blackfyre or at least not the Real Aegon IV Targaryen and siding with Dany when she arrives to Westros.

[@efrent-vr3bm]

I like that theory, plenty of parallels. But wouldn't that mean that (f)Aegon is a Targaryen and not a Blackfyre. The Blackfyres were already on the scene by this time

[@mouse3872]

@@efrent-vr3bm Blackfyres = Targaryens. Blackfyres are a Targaryen cadet branch Aegon the IV legitimized all his Bastards so the only reason Daemon Blackfyre isn't named Daemon Targaryen is because he Chose to name himself after the Sword he was given. Plus it might not matter because if they get married Faegon would be believed to be a Targaryen at the time of the marriage.

[@efrent-vr3bm]

@@mouse3872 True, but instead of (f)Aegon. What about Jon? Valarr and Jon don’t have the Targaryen hair, both have dark hair By the way. Does anyone know if any of Aegon IVs legitimized bastards took the Targaryen surname?

[@mouse3872]

@@efrent-vr3bm so yes Jon could definitely be an option but I don't know if Jon and Sansa would be down for a marriage with each other considering they grew up believing they were siblings and the Starks don't like Brother to sister marriages. And I have been wondering the same thing honestly because one thing that always irked me about people who talked about that era mention that Aegon IV had dozens of bastards but they only talk about the Great Bastards. Which makes me wonder if there is a bunch of tiny Targaryen cadet houses around Westros. Or even some smaller houses that scooped up these legitimized bastards and married them into their families to have some dragon blood in their family trees.

[@efrent-vr3bm]

@@mouse3872 Same situation in GRRM's original draft. Arya and Jon grew up as siblings, but once Jon's true parentage was revealed, it was fine Maybe gardener GRRM just changed the Stark sister But to be honest, I don't think Sansa will marry anyone again.

[@fofi444]

i hate how the writers of the show handled her, whenever i used to say that she was one my fave characters i got side-eyed so hardddd

[@BlackwoodSupremacy]

Sansa is my favorite character so maybe I’m biased, but I see Sansa becoming a moral Littlefinger. Subtly manipulating events in favor of the North and her family

[@QuinnTheGM]

That’d be a fascinating direction to take her character, especially as other schemers (Littlefinger included) start to die off.

[@janekfilipowski9119]

From the start of the books Sansa was a pawn in the games of others in King's Landing so the natural progresion for her character would be to become a player in the game of thrones

[@owenmcbrearty9387]

"Slaying a Giant in a Castle made of snow" could simply be her hitting Sweetrobin as he destroys the snow mini-winterfell

[@CesarALlanos]

God I hope this is a red herring

[@nont18411]

Or Sansa killing Hodor when he’s holding the door in Winterfell.

[@MCAPrince]

@@nont18411 While she says: for Craster's sons send their regards and she reveals herself to be the Night's Queen

[@LucasCastro-rt3ih]

I have noticed a pattern (also read about in the internet just to confirm im not the only one noticing this) Martin when he writes a legit foreshadowing he does in a 3-step style That scene of the snow winterfell and Robin seizure feels kinda the 2nd step of the same foreshadowing is mentioned in this video Also the fact that petyr bealish dsnt like his family sigil and decide to change it for a bird is a good way to hide something that otherwise would be an obvius hint

[@ΚατερίναΤσιτσιμπίκου]

If I remember correctly, he does this because Sansa destroys the doll he was holding, tearing off its head, like "slaying a giant" the giant being the doll.

[@niallgaffney2475]

Currently rereading GoT, Sansa’s story is a lot better than I remember 🙌

[@LucasCastro-rt3ih]

Sansa and catelyn get more interesting when you read the whole 5 books more that 2 times xD for me was the 4th run(?

[@niallgaffney2475]

I’m on my 3rd read through now and totally agree 👍

[@LucasCastro-rt3ih]

@@niallgaffney2475 Get ready for your head to be blown on A Feast for crows lmao I read all of them 9 times until I felt I didnt discovered nothing new

[@niallgaffney2475]

Looking forward to it 👍

[@NiallGaffney-gk4oj]

@@dr4d1s Yea, I was rereading the first book at the time.

[@opie_yt]

Was never huge on Sansa in the show but she is easily one of my favorite characters in the books so I can’t wait to see where her journey through Winds takes her

[@celebalert5616]

the brotherhood of the winged knights detail is interesting because we see so much in the series about mythology and historical narratives and how they play into power, and starting off Sansa is the biggest believer in chivalry and this kind of heroic mythology ... so now we see her become the one who is creating and exploiting this mythology for her own purposes

[@johnnye87]

I suspect that a huge blind spot for Petyr (ironic since he was an example of it as a teenager) is that it's not only young girls that have romantic notions of knights in shining armour rescuing princesses - so do a lot of knights, at least the young ones who haven't yet been traumatised/disaffected by war. If Sansa is allowed to surround herself with a lot of tourney champions who even *nominally* owe her their swords, then no matter how much Littlefinger thinks he has them in his pocket, he can't guarantee they won't catch chivalry and agree to kill a Titan for her.

[@celebalert5616]

@@johnnye87 Yep very true. Even when he kills Dontas he dismisses him like 'oh he was just a drunk doing it for money it was all an act' because that's how he set it up to begin with but from what we actually see of Ser Dontas at least some part of him was sincerely playing that role and wanting to be the heroic knight even if it was just to the extent that it flattered his self perception.

[@PinkGrapefruit22]

I think Harry the Heir is heavily foreshadowed to die (Sansa practically cursing him by thinking "may your horse stumble and may you fall on your head," when her prayers/hopes have an eerie way of coming true; Humfrey Hardyng's eerily similar fate and subsequent death at the Ashford Tourney). That would dovetail perfectly with Sweetrobin defying expectations by living. These two facts coupled would render Littlefinger's (supposed) plan impossible. I really think Harry is going to get killed at the tourney, Ser Shadrich is going to reveal Sansa's identity, perhaps the Mountain Clans will choose that moment to attack, and in the ensuing chaos, that's when Sansa will make her run for the north, perhaps via the Fingers and White Harbor, mirroring Ned's flight from the Vale during Robert's Rebellion. I do think that the show's depiction of Sansa as the girl in grey reuniting with Jon at the Wall and then teaming up with him to retake Winterfell and the North is going to be accurate to her Winds of Winter plot as well. Fingers crossed that (Winds of) Winter is truly coming...

[@brianwings6908]

I agree on Harry's death and think LF set up the whole tourney to get Harry killed, probably by Ser Lyn.

[@thelaughingman3825]

If Sweetrobin doesn't die, Petyr will just straight up murder him lol

[@curranfrank2854]

@@thelaughingman3825 I mean, not if Harry the Heir is already dead. At that point he'd be better off keeping Sweetrobin alive

[@vcasxsnk]

man, cant wait to learn more when twow drops in 2099!

[@garretthurt1529]

Optimism! Good to see some people still hope

[@bonbonvegabon]

lol George released 9 WINDs chapters online that you can read yourself. There are two Sansa chapters released under her fake name Alaynne

[@elliecoffin616]

I'm so happy you did Sansa, thank you 😊she has such great story lines with interesting people in them.

[@ingen_nate_kenny6588]

Sansa’s AFFC chapters really give off that GRRM needed to invent something quick. I think she would have married Sweetrobin with the five year gap but GRRM was forced to invent Harry the Arse when that went away. I do wonder if going north is her destiny. It makes sense, but maybe south and King’s Landing is it. Who’s next? I say Arya.

[@michaelrobinson7100]

As much as some people aren't a fan of his I think Preston Jacobs fan fiction chapter for her lays pretty good groundwork for her character (although I do have problems with the chapter.) Harry dies and the knights of the Vale go into the Riverlands to press Sweetrobin's (and Littlefinger's and Sansa's) claims. I can't see her going North in TWOW, there is so much complexity up there already, especially if theories regarding Robb's heir and Jeyne Westerling being pregnant are correct. I also don't hate the theory that she might marry fAegon. I think it opens up interesting dynamics between her, Dany and potentially Jon. And could be far more interesting than the show version of their "conflict." But obviously Sansa's story is very open, she could even be the "younger and more beautiful queen" that brings down Cersei.

[@V_i_vi_an]

@@michaelrobinson7100 I think the show gave away more or less what will happen in Winds regarding the north/Sansa's plot. Wether she marries Harry or Robert, she will meet Jon and Rickon in White Harbor with an army from the Vale to march on Winterfell to take it from Ramsey (which will be the lord of Winterfell) but I don't think there's going to be a huge battle like the show, they will just take Winterfell easily and Ramsey will die in a pathetic way, betrayed by all his minions and then while determining who will get Winterfell, Robb's will is going to play a role and that's how Jon will be named king in the north (I expect Stannis will be already dead by then) So it will be more or less what happened in the show with less fireworks, not a huge battle, Rickon will be alive, Jon will become king because of the will, also Theon will be there with Asha, who will be pardoned after they discover Bran and Rickon are alive and how he saved Jeyne Poole. This will also play into the conflict between Jon and Sansa, because Sansa was expecting to rule Winterfell after getting the Vale there to fight for her and then Robb's will would crush her aspirations, but that conflict will be left for ADOS.

[@michaelrobinson7100]

@@V_i_vi_an Yeah I could definitely see some or all of that happening. I think Sansa will end up as queen in the North, there's just so much made across all of Martin's work that there hasn't been one it seems likely that Sansa will end up ruling. I think I'm just quite married to the idea of a Frey civil war, feel like there's been so much made of the Frey family tree that not using it feels like a waste, how it would play in with Lady Stoneheart tho i don't really know. Even then I think it would be cool to see the Frey's tear themselves apart in the riverlands through Sansa's perspective. Also there has been some foreshadowing of Sansa going to Harrenhal. She's often spoken of alongside bats and she talks about "bats in her stomach" quite a bit. Think this links to Harrenhal as both the Whents (her maternal grandmothers house) and the Lothstans who ruled HH before them, have bats on their sigil. As for the Sansa and Jon dynamic I'm not sure. I think a lot of it is dependent on Robb's will. Since it was written under the assumption that Bran and Rickon are dead, but they're still alive, would that invalidate Jon's claim? Also, even if Jon isn't the heir, Sansa would still come behind Rickon in the line of succession. A Manderly/ The North/ Rickon vs Littlefinger/ The Vale/ Sansa succession struggle could be interesting, but is there anything really setting this up? I also think that Jon and Sansa have probably the least connection (deliberately) of any of the Stark siblings. Apart from Sansa's experiences with being a bastard, what do they really have a relationship over? I think Jon is much more tied to Arya in this regard, and I would be surprised if Arya isn't the first sibling he meets. But obviously idk and I could see anything happening. Maybe they'll all just stop fighting and move to Pentos or something?

[@frostironerx3]

sansa is my favourite asoiaf character, great video :)!

[@ericfinnigan5362]

I love all these WIC videos! A really satisfying mix of recap and conjecture.

[@StormbornDragon]

i absolutely adore sansa as a character and her chapters are always so intrigue-heavy. (if we get winds) i can’t wait to see how her story ends.

[@bonbonvegabon]

George released 10 TWOW chapters online that you can read yourself. There are two Sansa chapters released under her fake name Alayne. The GOT youtube channel Bridge4 has narrated all of these released chapters on his channel.

[@MCAPrince]

I believe Winds of Winter will be released or announced on October 27th 2024.

[@EliasHall7]

@MCAPrince Why this particular date? Is this the date the new book covers will come out?

[@sirjoey3137]

It came to me in a dream.

[@MCAPrince]

@@EliasHall7 I know it is a completely delusional take and I will very likely be wrong. But I also think it would be amazing if I'm right so I'm sticking by it. The reasoning is very, very flimpsy, but is this: On March 11th and June 19th GRRM released blog posts both title "Words of Wisdom". Words of Wisdom has the same acronym of WoW as Winds of Winter. The first post is a quote by Falkner: "Dreams have only one owner at a time. That's why dreams are lonely". If you squint and reason like a Swiftie, you can take that to mean that 'only dreams are left.' Meaning he finished writing the Winds of Winter and now only has to do A Dream of Spring. The tags on the post are 'dreams' and 'writing', which could also mean he's 'writing dreams'. The second post is a quote by Theodore Roosevelt: "Far and Away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing", with the tags 'life and death' and 'writing'. Not even my delusions can truly argue how that means that Winds if finished and he's writing Spring, except maybe Winds could be analogous to Death and Spring analagous to Life. Theodore Roosevelt's birthday is on October 27th. There was also an assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt which he survived (life and death?) on October 14th so that is also an option. An October 27th announcement with a January 6th release date would also work (Roosevelt's birthday and the day he died). October 27th as a release date would also work if GRRM's attempt to go to WorldCon this august was an attempt to signal an annoucement he finished Winds, as he said he would not return until he finished it. An announcement in early august, after the ending of House of the Dragon (so the IP is in people's minds, but it won't overshadow the show), would go very well with an October release date. GRRM has also basically already confirmed that we shouldn't look for clues on his Blog about the release of Winds. But I like to be delusional anyway. And again, it would be pretty cool if I'm right.

[@rianmulcahy7200]

Considering that’s my birthday that would be quite possibly the best birthday gift of all time

[@MCAPrince]

I was raised in the religion of delusion as a Swiftie to look for clues that don't exsist everywhere, those valuable skills are now employed in service of ASOIAF. Want another delusional take that makes no sense? Taylor Swift partially based parts of her album reputation on Sansa & Arya Stark and Reputation (Taylor's Version) is the next of her re-recording albums to be released. So she and GRRM will do a joint announcement of reputation and Winds of Winter.

[@harrisont2004]

These videos are not only great speculation for the next book but an awesome recap for those of us that have forgotten what happened in the most recent entries! Loving this video series

[@rinmartell2678]

Sansa is my favorite character. Both in the books and the show. Sansa is will always have a special place in my heart and Sophie turner played her to the T.

[@samiai8905]

I think the dagger is going to be really important in the end of Littlefinger. It started the event leading up to the war and there is an interesting parallel to those events right now - A disabled boy who everyone expects to die who Littlefinger would be totally okay with. If we get another assassination attempt (like Harry sending a catspaw to kill Sweetrobin but Sansa saving him, doubtful but some sort of parallel like that) then it would help set off the series of events that will let her get her hands on the dagger (bc girl needs a weapon to protect herself, she has her armour she just needs a sword). A commenter below talked about the steel kiss and I love the idea that is how Sansa will kill Littlefinger and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary like with her bringing a knife to kill Dontos is he tried anything. I definitely think that her defeating Littlefinger should call back to all the victims she knows he had a hand in killing in some way to give justice to them and show that they were important as people and Littlefinger using them as things was unforgivable and wrong. And Sansa can't win by violence. Like with Cersci, the way for Sansa to win is to live and be better than the people who abused her

[@sirunfunnyiv7600]

So glad Quinn is covering Lyanna Mormont’s favorite Sandra Lanndister

[@nont18411]

Sandra Bolton

[@The_Malcontented]

@10:37 With the Red Herring being that the "giant" is Sweetrobin's doll, which he says is a giant and smashes-up her snowcastle with, which upsets Sansa so she rips the doll's head off in the midst of her literal castle made of snow. This fits the description perfectly..... which is why it probably isn't what that dream was referring to

[@skullknight4579]

ngl, not doing the timeskip is probally why George is struggling to write winds

[@warlordofbritannia]

Tbh, he should just retcon the ages. No one would blame for.

[@curranfrank2854]

It probably would've been better if he kept AFFC but used it to bridge the gap somewhat, leading to 5 years passing between ASOS and ADwD. The book could remain similar too, with similar povs - it would just have to take place over a longer period of time, and likely progress further into people's arcs like Jaime, Brienne and Cersei.

[@jeffreyjbyron]

Glad you mention Preston's team of fanfic writers. Those chapters are really amazing. I forget what is GRRM and what is the fanfic group.

[@jacedayne1535]

I agree with you that the Preston Jacob fanfic chapter is the closest thing to canon he has done (a part from the finale with Brynden Tully showing up). I think that the outline of 2003 probably gives a hint of where Sansa’s storyline will go, so no Ashford theory and marriage pact with Aegon, no travel through the Riverlands and no meeting with Stonehearth, I think that Sansa next step after revealing herself is straight up going North. About Littlefinger, I have an little head canon in my mind that he will be brought down after a trial, sort of like in the series, but a proper trial with key witnesses, Sansa knows he and Lys killed Jon Arryn and he killed Lysa, Arya will probably know what he did with Jeyne Poole after she meets her in Braavos (I don’t see Jeyne coming back to Westeros and tell whole of this herself) and maybe I can also see Sandor bearing witness of his betrayal of Ned with the gold cloaks (a little unsure in this one). I think that when Peter will see things aren’t going well for him he’ll ask for a trail by combat, hoping Lyn Corbray or Lothor Brune will stand as his champion only for them to turn him down, Lyn cause Sansa was right and he is Littefinger’s foe pretending to be his friend pretending to be his foes nd Lothor Brune because he has grown fond of Sansa and maybe in love with Mya Stone. So in the end Petyr will find himself alone to fight a trial by combat, if I have to pick someone I hope the Stark’s champion will be Brienen so a part of Ice kills Petyr. I also hope that before his end it gets revealed that it was probably him to suggest the beheading of Ned to Joffrey, so he’s the true killer of Ned Stark.

[@mhougey]

i could be wrong but i think preston jist rejected way to many of the plot threds intertwined with sansa that his fan fic chapters are set on a path that at face value may seem soild but have a so much missed potential.

[@kinnundo6434]

I absolutely love the SEO manipulation in the title of this series - so many people will be clicking to see the video about the winds of winter coming, I love it so much /gen

[@jacksonellis5865]

I've always liked the idea of Brienne and Oathkeeper being involved with Petyr's death. Whether it's Sansa using it to decapitate him (a bit of a leap I know) to mirror Catelyn asking for Brienne's sword in Clash, or Brienne perhaps being Sansa's fighter in Petyr's trial by combat, where no one will step up to be his champion (a mirror of his duel with Brandon)

[@921Ether]

I love the idea of brienne being her champion

[@sheismymom]

I hope we get to read The Winds of Winter someday.

[@bonbonvegabon]

You can read 10 pre released chapters from TWOW now, all online that George released.. There are two Sansa chapters released under her fake name Alayne. The GOT youtube channel Bridge4 has narrated all of these released chapters on his channel.

[@Arin-m7q]

I wouldn't mind seeing Sansa become Queen of the North, albeit after a very different journey than the show. Of the history parallels ASOIF was originally based on, Sansa is quite clearly Queen Elizabeth I. Of course, if GRRM were to write a Queen of the North finale, I'm sure it would have to be less of a clear-cut happy ending than the show version, but I can live with that.

[@officialredactor]

No, I think it's Elizabeth of York, because Edward IV( made a bad marriage choice like Robb and was a great military commander), died. Princes in the Tower are Bran and RIckon, but evil Ramsey/Roose Bolton( RIchard III) kills them supposedly.

[@The_Malcontented]

@6:36 Nestor and his daughter Myranda are members of the junior branch of House Royce, (much to Nestor's chagrin,) unlike Bronze Yohn Royce, leader of the Lords Declarant, who is the head of the main branch of House Royce and the second-most-powerful person in the Vale after Petyr. Nestor and Myranda don't appear in the show but Bronze Yohn does, eventually commanding the Vale army at the Battle of the Bastards and joining the court at Winterfell

[@Secean]

I cant believe that the Old Gods of the Algorithm hasn't recommend your channel until now :O Finding a new ASOIAF channel to binge is like a mini Christmas :D

[@tk423b]

How many lemon cakes would she have eaten in 5 years?

[@QuinnTheGM]

Incalculable

[@dr4d1s]

All of them

[@jamessanford2991]

Sansa's chapters in feast were some of my favorites. I hope she gets some more page time in Winds than she has had as of late

[@bonbonvegabon]

George released 10 TWOW chapters online that you can read yourself. There are two Sansa chapters released under her fake name Alayne. The GOT youtube channel Bridge4 has narrated all of these released chapters on his channel.

[@strategosopsikion8576]

The killing of the giant prophecy could also be referring to sweet robin. As he was the “giant” that smashed Sansa’s snow castle in the Erie.

[@matthewmckeon4503]

Yes!!! I’ve been waiting for this!

[@princeprocrastinate6485]

Bran has 3 chapters in Dance. Can't believe Sansa only has 3 in Feast as well, thought it was at least 4-5.

[@doughnutnizzle2620]

I know it’s a fantasy story but the height of the Eyrie is waaayy past the vertical limit and it makes me chuckle anytime I think about it

[@status_quo_post]

The fact that Littlefinger keeps rising to the top through accumulation of titles is brilliant. He is Lord Paramount of the Trident and Lord Protector of the Vale which in theory gives him direct control over two important regions. The North is sure to be next but I wonder what his plan beyond that will be.

[@hogndog2339]

He is also Lord of Harrenhal, and we know what happens to those who hold this title

[@bitbyaturtle]

I am really enjoying this series.

[@jackleith3502]

A cool bit of symbolism I think gets overlooked regarding the purple serpents in Sansa’s hair is the fact that snakes use one of two methods to kill: Venom Constriction Joffrey was poisoned with a poison called The Strangler and choked to death.

[@CrackingCody]

If George doesn't like to use public speculation in his books, then doesn't that mean he'd be trying to chance how the Night Light strategy occurs with Stannis or if Jon really is the real Aegon or who's going to end up killing Cersei?

[@mhougey]

Quinn, I am just starting the video but I am so glad someone is talking about sansa, who's plot line is absolutely packed with massive wildcards that can rapidly chage the dynamic of her story. Hope to see you touch on some of my person ideas of what may be in store for you. I'd love to pick anyones brain thats thinking about whats in store for Sansa.

[@PineappleLiar]

While its easy to pick out the character arcs most negatively affected by the loss of the 5 year gap, I also wonder if we can pinpoint the POVs that most encouraged its abandonment in the first place. Imo Brienne is the most obvious for not having the time skip; starting a search for Arya and Sansa five years after the fact would be even more of a stretch than her current investigation. Most of the Ironborn plots are also pretty hard to justify only taking place 5 years after Storm, and in Littlefinger’s meta monologue he cites Cersei’s bungling of rule in King’s Landing as another reason the plot could only happen now. Funny enough most of the Dance characters I feel have plots that’d fit the 5 year time skip, with Theon being one of the few on shakier ground. Perhaps all those characters ended up in Dance ‘because’ their plots needed to be rewritten to omit the five year gap?

[@JMTgpro]

I didn't know about those notes. I've always had a theory that Sansa is going to choose to protect Sweet Robin by marrying him, instead of marrying Harry. Many say that Harry is an idiot, and maybe he is, or he will die immediately. But in my opinion, I think he will reveal himself as an attractive and solid young man, decent and in fact, perhaps, the knight that Sansa always dreamed of, at least her "inner girl", but still, she will choosing Family, Duty and Honor, and will marry Robin to protect him.

[@jeangove01]

With regards to Littlefinger being the giant in Sansa's prophecy, it's probably relevant to mention that the sigil of House Baelish is the head of the Titan of Braavos.

[@frankyg821]

I had no idea that Sansa only had 3 chapters in feast! I love little finger and Sansa’s training.

[@raylast3873]

5:59 I think this thing with the Vale Lords needed to be specified a bit more: Robert Arryn, aka Sweetrobin is legally the lord of the Eyrie, and the Vale, not Baelish. But because Robin is indisposed, this then leaves Baelish run things, even though he technically has no real position (in the Vale); and that’s what’s controversial! Especially since, in theory, Robert isn’t even all that young. So the controversy is about whether Petyr should have guardianship over Robin and be allowed to just run then place.

[@xSavedSoulx]

I'm loving the voice cracks throughout the video.

[@firestar4407]

Winds of Winter coming for Jaime Winds of Winter coming for Tyrion Winds of Winter coming for Sansa But no Winds of Winter coming for us :(

[@clatricia]

I'd always considered the Ghost of High Heart's second prophecy for Sansa ("And later I dreamt that maid again, slaying a savage giant in a castle built of snow.") to be in reference to Petyr due to his House sigil plus the coming winter weather and story directions in the Vale and possibly to the North, but it could also be a play on words that Sansa could take down a giant conspiracy-perhaps, ironically, to do with her killing or being involved in the death of the Mad Mouse, Ser Shadrich of Shady Glen. Shady indeed, GRRM.

[@loewin]

I really hope, Winds of Winter will get released. Sansa is my favorite character and I want to know, how things turn out for her sice the show Sansa is not the book Sansa.

[@julesgch3976]

She’s probably the Stark I’m most clueless as to where Martin takes a character (in a good way)

[@QuinnTheGM]

She’s the opposite to me, I have very little idea where the hell arya is going to end up

[@Jaybirdieblue]

@@QuinnTheGMSame here, Sansa is somewhat clear to me, I have no clue what he’s doing with Arya

[@nont18411]

Sansa Stark: "You have to be smarter than father. You need to be smarter than Robb. I loved them, I miss them, but they made stupid mistakes and they both lost their heads for it." This line alone sums up everything wrong with how the show handled Sansa.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

Agreed The writers took almost everything from the books at face value, or rather, "online idiot value" or whatever you'd call the average casual take on the story

[@nont18411]

@@Captain_Insano_nomercy The most infuriating part is that Sansa used the Lannister-Frey-Bolton talking point in this scene. Instead of saying something like “Father and Robb trusted wrong people. I don’t want you to repeat the same mistakes and died like them.”, she said that Ned and Robb are stupid. No wonder why people remember her as Sansa Bolton. She’s a Bolton to the core to be able to spread Bolton propaganda like this. The reason the Northerners demonized Robb, Ned and Catelyn so much in the books is because they can’t support the Starks out loud. Lord Manderly made that clear to Davos. It’s like someone saying that they love the Jews during Nazi Germany era. Say that and they die on the spot so they have to pretend to say what the regime wants them to say while operating in secret to help the Jews or in this case, help the Starks.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

@nont18411 yeah it was all nonsense man, the main take away that they got about Arya was "she's an assassin badass"

[@abelincoln.2064]

Nope. Season 1 - 6 followed the book ending. Season 7 - 8 will not spoil the books. George has always had full T rights. Only a moron believes George would give two unknown producers final say & creative control of his characters & stories .... when the two knew after reading the first book that Jon is a Targarryen Prince and Tyrion is the only basterd (brother of dany). C'mon Man. George had a reason from the beginning having Jon as Tyrion, "What the hell do you know about being a bastard?"

[@V_i_vi_an]

It's important to note that Sansa is showing she's actually very clever and observant. She catches on by herself about Corbray being an agent of Littlefinger which caught me by surprise in first read, it was kind of a plot twist and Sansa figured it out. She will become more politically savy moving forward and I'm hype for it.

[@TemariNaraannaschatz]

I also love how later after she figured him out she thinks to herself that at the end of the day Corbray is just fighting for himself. And that is after LF esentially f-d him over by helping his brother get a new wife. So it seems she is one step ahead of LF in that regard, considering he's quiet sure Corbray is working for him just as he needs to.

[@whyareyoureadingmynickname8158]

Changes in Sansa's story are one of the biggest reasons why season 5 is my least favourite. It was not only dumb, but also unnecessarily cruel. This girl already went through hell, finally made it to (relative) safety and then you do THAT to her? Also, her evolving from sweet and naive girl to brilliant mastermind was just as unnatural and forced as Dany going mad. I'm not against the idea of it happening, I'm against the way it was done. Just rushed, dumb, forced and dumb again. Such wasted potential.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

EXACTLY! That drove me nuts, partly because I'm a therapist who specialises in trauma recovery, and it's a fact that serious trauma *does not* in fact make people smarter and stronger, and victims are *never* thankful for what they've supposedly "learned" from their abuse. The GRRM version, where Sansa has spent time watching quietly, surviving, and learning from everything she sees and hears in King's Landing, then spending time as a master schemer's de facto apprentice makes sense as a way that she would become a more astute person, with much more backbone and a far more complex worldview than most around her. She's still had her share of trauma, and been affected by it, but it wasn't gratuitous in the way that the show was.

[@imperialisticvonhabsburg3149]

You forget about something very important, cheap SA scene without exploring long term impact of one of the worst things that can happen is what makes a woman empowered!

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

@@imperialisticvonhabsburg3149 That bit's always left me with concerns for any woman who's ever worked with or even encountered Dumb and Dumber. Do they believe this stuff in reality, and live as they write? What's going to come out when the NDAs have expired?

[@abelincoln.2064]

Wake up. George has always had full TV rights. Only a moron believes George would give two unknown Producers final say & creative control of his beloved characters & stories, especially when they quickly figured out Jon is a Targaryen Prince and Tyrion is Dany's bastard brother. Seasons 1 - 6 followed the main ending of the book. Season 7 & 8 were complete BS as George did not want TWOW & ADOS spoiled. And until Season 7 & 8 ... D&D were not allowed to ruinfour main characters: Dany, tyrion, Jon(fire) & Sansa (ice)

[@three-eyedmonkey7344]

Sansa is not going North in the books, she’s going south, courtesy of the Mad Mouse. (I wouldn’t pay much attention to old outlines.) The North will be snowed under soon, as winter and the Others push south. The action will collapse on King’s Landing over the course of the next book. Sansa’s conflict with Cersei is central to her arc. She is significant to the arcs of characters like Jaime, Brienne, and Sandor. Tying these characters’ plotlines together will happen in King’s Landing. There’ll probably be a trial-by-seven involved as George sets stuff up in the novellas for a reason and I can’t see where else this would fit in the novels. The castle made of snow will be the Red Keep or Harrenhal in the depths of winter.

[@starsofnysar]

she's mostly intended to go to white harbor by ship just like how its mentioned the first time she goes to the vale, the kidnapping attempt might be a total failure by interruption of the vale clansmen, the point with brienne is that she wont find sansa possibly until the end of winds or beginning of dreams but she will cross paths with arya who actually has an arc tied to the riverlands

[@joshbecka6110]

I do like them audio book versions

[@JW0522]

0:46 - Quinn's Best Lyanna Mormont Impression 😂

[@sheadoolittle]

You hope winter actually comes… I will believe it when I see it.

[@Skypirateinc]

The show endings for Sansa and Arya were a surprise for me because I wasn't expecting George to go 'happy ending'. Those two specific characters received endings on par with fairy-tale princess or some in LoTR. That both (not one, both) characters receive their childhood dream perfect ending to their arc was truly shocking. Sansa wants to be queen --- Sansa IS queen, girlboss addition. Arya doesn't want to be a lady --- Arya isn't a lady and gets to travel as a warrior maiden.

[@wyzlndoewko7113]

Love this series of yours, mister sir quinn the grapefruit measurer

[@veitanah]

LETS GO QUINNNNN

[@josephyoung2593]

As someone who observes Weserosi goings-on with a very clear understanding of the gap between what should be and what is, Sansa is crucial to Martin's narrative and she seemed like an urgent case for this series. I like Quinn's analysis, though it ignores one point that I've never successfully gotten out of my head since I first read the books. There's another character in modern fantasy who spends a lot of time in the care of an intellectually-inclined, black-clad, shifty-looking custodian who's clearly up to something - and the reader only found out after Snape died that he was acting in Harry's best interests, for the love he bore Lily. I'm not offering odds on this, but wouldn't it be a mind-blower - and on-brand - for Littlefinger to die horribly, perhaps with Sansa's involvement per Quinn's notes about the Ghost of High Heart, only for Jaime or Brienne to discover a paper trail incontrovertibly proving that he was sincerely trying to protect the last bit of Cat he could after the Red Wedding?

[@aliasfakename3159]

Sansa has spent the past couple years being used as a pawn in other people's plans. First Cersei, then Littlefinger. Her character arc is about passivity, so I want her to make a choice for herself for once. Maybe she finds out what happened to her childhood friend Jeyne or makes her own plans in private independent of Littlefinger. Maybe she befriends Mya Stone who smuggles her to Gulltown then White Harbor, allowing her to meet Rickon when he comes back from Skagos.

[@tomstein3165]

surely the crones prophecy just refers to sansa breaking robins "giant" doll for destroying her snow winterfell. it makes sense that this would be worth prophesising about because it led to littlefinger killing lysa and everything that followed that

[@Tulkash01]

Sands slaying a giant made of snow is a reference to Sansa playing with Sweetrobin I think

[@liamprice590]

I always thought slaying a giant in a castle made of snow is when she slapped Sweet Robyn for destroying the winter fell she made of snow

[@thelizardking3036]

That would be a little weird. The other profecies are about great events. Murder of kings etc. A girl slepping a little boy seems a bit random.

[@obey_forever_mae]

@@thelizardking3036 It may not be random if Sansa slapping him somehow connects to a bigger part of the prophecy... villian origin story perhaps? LOL

[@liamprice590]

@@thelizardking3036 you could argue it kind of led to Lysa Arryn getting killed, but I see what you're saying. I just really like little finger though so am hoping I'm right

[@mschell8022]

Sansa is George's attempt to put the medieval fantasy princess character into into his brutal game of politics. With a lot of reference to the historical life of Elizabeth I! I love how he has her trained by Littlefinger and protected by the Hound.

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

For some reason, I fear for Sansa. Knight-errant Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse was hot on her cold trail in the Feast Brienne chapters. I think the book purposely plays down how much a potential threat he may be

[@warlordofbritannia]

Or help, if you accept the theory he’s Howland Reed

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

@@warlordofbritannia oddly, I don’t think Howland Reed in the books ever saw any of Ned’s kids besides Jon. Never visited Winterfell

[@pjfsr7024]

Really, the only people responsible for Joffrey's death are LF and Lady Olenna the teen was unaware until she left and thought about it in front of the tree as she took off the hairnet. As for me Sansa was done in by D & D changing her S2 time line and discarding her active participation in her escape before battle of Blackwater Bay. S5 they jumped the shark with that Ramsay bs.

[@shadow6024]

Love this series!

[@crudleydrawn]

i really am curious what will happen when this releases. with all the time and theories idk if George can write something that will satisfy everyone. but maybe thats good. there is fun and community from theory crafting, but the fun of that should be the point not the expectation that you will get exactly what you expect from a finished product.

[@larryhall2873]

One of my biggest questions in all this is where and when does Littlefinger’s plan get ruined? There seems to be a general consensus in the community that he will die, but I never really hear when or where that will take place. I’m sure it will, he’s the type of player that could only ever die or sit the Iron Throne and I doubt he’ll win the Game of Thrones, but I also don’t think it makes sense for Sansa to so quickly turn on him. Equally, I think it would be a brilliant arc for her to use him to her own advantage when he thinks he’s using her. Potentially getting him to put her up as Queen of the North only to rally against him when she has the strength? That’s just one thought, I know there are countless others. But I’m interested in hearing what you think? I reckon Petyr will live until A Dream of Spring, but does anyone else think that and if not, where do you think it goes wrong?

[@corinnes.7619]

I have never clicked faster.

[@raylast3873]

Dosen‘t the giant in the castle refer to Sansa‘s playground fight with Sweetrobin?

[@ILikedGooglePlus]

She is Aegon Targaryen. It is known.

[@ascorvinus]

Harry the Heirball

[@Muhammad_Usman_Raza]

On the topic of Sansa being HEIR to the North, As per Peter May be, it's possible that Peter had a planning in the mutiny at Castle black, Bastard or no, Jon is still Ned's son in the eyes of North. and we know Peter is storing all the food for the winter, may be he used Night's watch hatred for Wildlings and their need for food for winter as bargain and told them that Jon is the threat to the Realm and Night's watch. Hope that makes sense, and what do you think of this?

[@QuinnTheGM]

That’s an interesting thought, though I think if it were true we would’ve seen some indicate or hint in that direction? The only currently living Night’s Watch member from the vale that I can think of is Dolorous Ed, and he didn’t stab Jon.

[@Muhammad_Usman_Raza]

@@QuinnTheGM Yeah, it was just a thought, Hopefully we get twow soon for more Answers. Thanks for Replying btw.

[@Krom5072]

How would he organize that though, even if we grant that he has loyal men at the Wall? It's not like he can radio them a signal, and raven comms are generally quite tightly controlled by the maesters

[@raylast3873]

2:24 Holy shit, all this happens in SoS? This makes me feel incredibly old somehow.

[@volosguidetomonsters3440]

I have a different theory. I think Sansa will marry Aegon if Arianne doesn't. It mirrors how at a tourney in (I think it's Dunk and Egg but it might be Fire and Blood), a character whose name I forget was proposed to marry a Baratheon, a Tyrell, a Lannister, a Hardyng, and a Targaryen. Sansa has already gone past the first three and probably soon four. Also, both Sansa and Aegon are around the same age and important people, so politically and romantically it would work. This relies, of course, on Aegon and Arianne not getting together, which seems very possible

[@lburrsshinyhunts2253]

Littlefinger has a bird. Umbers are giants, but sweet robin may be the giant as he was stomping her snow castle version of winterfell

[@General.Kappadin]

Just wanted to point out that "the maid slaying a giant in a castle built of snow" is obviously referencing Sansa/Alayne destroying sweet robins puppet, when he destroys her snow castle on the earie. I think it's just before petyr kisses her, Lysa sees it and later Lysa flies

[@RapScoop]

Hm, I’ve always thought that the killing of the giant and the castle built of snow was a reference to the scene in Storm, Sansa VII, in which Robert attacks the Sansa’s snowcastle pretending to be a giant. But it is true, she does not “slay” him, but it might indicate that Sansa will be the one who kills Robert in Winds of Winter? Edit: typo

[@carlrood4457]

The thing about the derailed Sansa arc is that after that part was over, they acted like she'd gone through the arc she seemingly is supposed to go through. She's the character who's been exposed to politics from every perspective (Ned, Robert, Joffrey, Cersei, Tywin, Littlefinger, etc.). Essentially, she's learning to rule by seeing what's good and bad and that you can't be all one thing. Removing the Vale part diminishes that education.

[@OJ_Pimpson]

Indeed the show butchered this character. Kept telling the audience how smart she was and constantly wrote her doing the dumbest shit

[@ztadiaz8606]

Oh my god I read the title and clicked so fast then felt sooo disappointed ☹️

[@raysha9932]

Sadly we will never know

[@Astartes-6969]

I kinda want a Remake of the show, since HOTD has brought back the GOT Popularity. But I think they should make it Animated and not Live Action. With a similar Animation Style like Arcane or Blue Eye Samurai or the Spiderverse Films. But obviously AFTER The Big Man finishes the books.

[@georgedimi7930]

Is it “The purple wedding” because it’s royalty or cause of Joffrey’s colour when he was choking?

[@DD-qo1tw]

The "divide chapter" is likely his intention to have half of her chapters be alayne stone, the other half Sansa, meaning internally. In the end she chooses to be Sansa, not alayne.

[@AncientRylanor69]

I just wish George R. R. Martin would sit his fat ass down & finish the last 2 books PLEASE, I don't want to hear about House of the Dragon or nightflyers or House of the Worm or Voyaging, The Plague Star or Rise of the Dragon I want The Winds of Winter & A Dream of Spring! Weave all been waiting for over a decade at this point, I say weave all waited long enough. 👺😡🤬

[@Strobertat]

I believe the giant that Santa kills is Sweet Robin, not Petyr. At the end of Storm, Sweet Robin destroys Sansa snow castle shouting "here comes a giant. Stomp, stomp, stomp."

[@porqpine53]

You didn’t even mention that littlefinger literally was a giant in the snow castle Sansa made

[@AlexRoivas]

I just want the book to come out before WW3 starts.

[@harrisont2004]

I really hope Sansa’s killing of Littlefinger is a far better outwitting of him than what we got in the show