9. Jaime And Bronn Go To Dorne
In the show: After receiving a threat from Dorne pertaining to her daughter Myrcella, who has been wardened there since season 2, Cersei sends her brother Jaime (who is, of course, Myrcella's real father) to Dorne in order to bring her safely back to King's Landing. For the trip Jaime - who isn't quite the fighter he used to be, on account of having just the one hand and all - recruits Bronn to help him on the quest. The pair thus set sail for Dorne, where word reaches the Sand Snakes (Prince Oberyn's bastard daughters) of the Kingslayer's arrival. In the books: Neither Jaime nor Bronn even so much as contemplate going to Dorne. Bronn is married to Lollys Stokeworth, which is shown on TV, but not much else is really heard of him. Jaime, meanwhile, is sent away by Cersei, but in the books this is to the Riverlands, to lead a Lannister army against those who remain loyal to Robb Stark. He ends up at Riverrun treating with Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully. In Dorne, meanwhile, the Sand Snakes have been jailed by Doran Martell, as an attempt to placate the Lannisters. His eldest daughter, Arianne Martell, thus conspires a plan to raise Myrcella to the Iron Throne, increasing her own chances of ruling Dorne in the process. Her plan ultimately fails, and Myrcella loses an ear in the process. What it means: This isn't the first time Bronn has partnered up with Jaime - he replaced Ser Ilyn Payne in teaching him how to fight left-handed, and indeed it is Payne he sort-of replaces here, as it is the mute executioner who goes with Jaime to the Riverlands. That story is unlikely to be harmed too much, as we haven't seen the Blackfish since back in season 3. Arianne, meanwhile, hasn't been introduced at all, and isn't likely to be. If her book role is to be replaced at all, then chances are it'll be the Sand Snakes taking it on. How this ultimately impacts on Myrcella's story isn't clear, as you'd imagine Jaime won't take kindly to leaving Sunspear without his daughter (would saying 'empty-handed' be a bit too harsh?). One upside is it means more of Jerome Flynn as Bronn, which everyone must agree can only be a good thing.
James Hunt
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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far.
A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.
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