Well, I guess I get exactly ONE more week of being an annoying spoiler nerd?
At this point, the show has pretty much already caught up to the end of Book 5, so I have no idea what happens next. But I'll offer a few spoilers/thoughts.
So far the show and Books have only really significantly diverged in 2-3 ways. Mostly to get rid of a lot of boring nonsense from the last two books.
I guess we know why its called A Song of Ice and Fire? Last week we had ice zombies, now we have fire-breathing dragons. I don't know what true vision/power Melisandre has - she has visions about a great battle in the snow - but perhaps she misread WHO the Lord of Light will be? Did you notice that both the Night's King AND Thoros of Myr (another follower of Melisandre's God) both have the power to raise the dead? That can't be coincidence.
Everybody who is speculating about Dani - the greyscale isn't even really an issue! The scene with Dani getting rescued by Drogon comes almost at the end of Book 5. There should be ONE MORE scene with our Khaleesi in next week's episode. And that will likely be one of the two big cliffhangers next week. I suspect its going to be the very last scene of the year. Notice I used her OLD title...
The other big cliffhanger will take place at The Wall. I'm still wondering when Sam/Gilly get sent off on their mission. This will likely be the next to last scene. Jon knows nothing...
They sped the Arya story along. I suspect they added a little red meat into this storyline on the show - so they'll either end this season on a happy note or a frightening one with a happy one at the start of next season for our little ninja. Depends how J'har takes to her little side mission. WHEN Arya finally learns to serve the Many-Faced God, she'll be badass.
You all forgot about Cersei and Margaery. Next week's episode is called Mother's Mercy, so expect most of the plot to focus in King's Landing...with most of the real bombs thrown elsewhere. Hopefully we'll find out more about the Lannister vs. Tyrell civil war and how Littlefinger has weaved into it all. And Lena Headley's may get a new entry on Mr. Skin, but not exactly a pleasant scene.
Dorne's "plot" will be revealed finally, and I expect we might see the Ironborn pirates sometime soon too - because they all have the same general idea.
In a way, Stannis vs. Bolton and Cersei vs. Margaery (even Lanister vs. Tyrell) are all misdirection. If the last two episodes are any indication, the REAL battle is yet to come - Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons vs. The Night's King and his army of ice zombies. That's probably how the show and books end. That's when Brandon Stark's role becomes clear, when Sam Tarly's book smart becomes important. And if you haven't figure it out - the biggest next step in this is figuring out how to get a Khaleesi and her Dragons off of one continent onto another. Which of the great houses of Westeros will survive? Well, go back and watch last episode's conversation with Tyrion and Dani for more speculation. Who is going to fight for their own power, and who will fight to save Westeros?
