It annoys me to no end that his character is just out there somewhere, especially considering his possible importance.
So then what was the point? They built up the fact that he was most likely the bastard of Robert but then nothing else happened. At least all other hopefuls (Renly & Rob) were killed off before they could really do anything. I get that Gendry is in the same boat as Ramsay and Jon in terms of being bastards (though Ramsay is legitimate now), but if he was made Gendry Baratheon, he would have been the successor to the crown without argument. So, he kind of was a big deal, at least they made it seem that way.
I mean maybe he'll hook back up with the BwB like in the books but other than that I think his importance is pretty inflated. Especially with so many other people vying for/having more legitimate claims to the throne.
How many people know Gendry's real identity? How many of those people are in any position to legitimize him? Who among those that don't know would be willing to accept him as their new king?
Gendry will never be legitimized after Roberts death. There is no value in it for anyone who would have the power to make such a move, because the only people who could do it have their own claims to the throne that he would thwart. He also explicitly wanted nothing to do with any of the politics and had ties to two characters, one of whom died at Briennes hand and the other of whom is on a different continent. He is completely, wholly irrelevant until there comes a point where it makes sense for him to come back, but I don't see that ever happening, basically.
Yea, I get it, I just don't like loose ends. Besides his character, there aren't any other "mysteries" we don't at least have a half assed theory about. I guess The Hound is another one we aren't too sure of, but his story continues in the books so we're assuming the show will follow. On that note, if the Cleganes actually do fight, how in the hell would The Hound beat The Mountain? Especially the Robert Strong variant.
The hound's story doesn't explicitly continue in the books, only a character (the gravedigger) who might fit his description, so it's about on pace with the show there. As for the second part, hopefully fire, so that it would kind of mirror what gregor did to sandor when they were kids.
there are loads of unfinished plots and characters in the books. the hound isnt even necessarily alive in the books, thats just a theory based on descriptions and deduction.
I don't see Gendry as a loose end. I think his whole story was about being in a shitty situation just because he was Robert's son. I don't think there was ever a chance he was going to have a legitimate chance at becoming King, him rowing off into the distance was pretty much the best his character was going to get. Sure they could show a scene of him living happily ever after somewhere or birds picking at the flesh of his washed up corpse but I don't think we really need that. Not everything has to have a written ending.
tbh assuming he is alive, I don't think the hound v mountain fight is going to go down like book readers are speculating (what else is new), it seems like the plan is to deal with the faith militant before they get a chance to put Cersei on trial.
word. plus I always thought her being executed (or imprisoned? idk the penalty) after her champion loses a trial by combat was a really lame way for her to go out.