Possible Season 5 Episode 9 Title and Synopsis Leak

Though HBO has not released the official title and synopsis for the last two episodes of this season, speculation has been rampant as to what those last two episodes will be called. Now TV Guide has posted what looks to be the official Title and Synopsis for the all important Episode 9. We have no confirmation of this as of yet, but the title matches up to an earlier spoiler an intrepid viewer worked out a couple of weeks ago, so…

Possible spoilers for Episode 9, ahead!

As we reported a few weeks back, a Redditor worked out from reading HBO’s website code that the title for Episode 9 is “The Dance of Dragons.” That’s the same title TV Guide posted here, which suggests the rest of this synopsis could possibly be on point…with the exception of maybe one thing.

“Jon returns to the Wall; Arya runs into someone from her past; Mace visits the Iron bank; Stannis faces a difficult decision; Dany oversees a celebration of athleticism.

Just in case it gets pulled, here is the screengrab.

With episode 8 entitled “Hardhome, this suggests that instead of the big battle taking place in Episode 9, it will happen in Episode 8. Arya and Ser Meryn Trant are heading for a showdown—we know those will storylines meet based on these pictures taken during filming. Stannis facing a difficult decision could validate the fan theory that taking Shireen along for the ride into battle will put her in danger, or perhaps result in her death. (Whether that’s because she’s kidnapped by the Boltons or Melisandre thinks her blood sacrifice will help with the the war effort is to be determined.)

It’s that last line that makes me wonder if this synopsis is for real, or if someone at TV Guide is trolling fans. We all assume episode 9 is where these pictures and this clip of Dany reopening Danzak’s Pit come from. And I know that synopses have a way of speaking in very dry language. But really? Dany oversees a celebration of athleticism?

Either way, it will be interesting to see if TV Guide pulls this (and how fast—as of this writing it’s been posted on Reddit for at least 16 hours and counting). It will also be interesting to see if this is the real thing when HBO puts out the press release for the last two episodes. (Which should be either this coming Monday afternoon, or the one after.) Meanwhile, we still know nothing about Episode 10…what are the chances it will be called “For The Watch,” as many speculate?

• Published on 05/24/2015 at 9:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:04 PM CDT