Game of Thrones TV Thread **HBO-Purists ONLY**

[jackvance]

I personally like how it is now, with the Hound being the 'evil guy with a golden heart'. I didn't like him at first but he totally grew on me. Another thing I liked about the episode was that Bran's little brother split off. Wasn't there a prediction that he's going to grow into some powerful evil guy? Seems like it could be set up by this.

[wufwugy]

The slave battle not being shown was a bit of a cop-out indeed, but for me it was compensated by Danni's facial expressions when she heard of the victory. She radiated power so crazily good.

LOL I was too busy shaking my head to notice. For some reason, this show likes to skip some really important scenes, like Tyrion breaking the wedding news to Sansa and Shae.

My message to GoT writers: always deliver the payload.


Cat was legit as fuck in that scene btw

[wufwugy]

I personally like how it is now, with the Hound being the 'evil guy with a golden heart'. I didn't like him at first but he totally grew on me. Another thing I liked about the episode was that Bran's little brother split off. Wasn't there a prediction that he's going to grow into some powerful evil guy? Seems like it could be set up by this.

Yeah that's my prediction, but I don't know how accurate it is. So far the dire wolves don't appear to have any real meaning. But if you go back to s1, you can see that there's a really strong case for Rickon being something dark and in the shadows. You know, because he loved hanging out in the crypt with his scary dog. Also pretty sure that's where he seer'd his dad's death. Also have another prediction that when Winter Comes all over Winterfell's face, the crypt will rise and be undead wights for the walkers. Shit'll be bananas. Dead Starks scrambling every which way.

Won't happen though, just a thought.

I'm guessing what happens with Rickon is entirely unpredictable at this point

[jackvance]

LOL I was too busy shaking my head to notice. For some reason, this show likes to skip some really important scenes, like Tyrion breaking the wedding news to Sansa and Shae.

I was so pissed about that! Really wanted to see how he'd handle it.

Yeah that's my prediction, but I don't know how accurate it is. So far the dire wolves don't appear to have any real meaning.

I'm confused about that. They were set up to be something super important, atleast that's what it seemed like. And now they didn't even auto-attack Jon's assailtants? Bran had to Xavier them?

I'm guessing what happens with Rickon is entirely unpredictable at this point

I like to think he's purposely being kept in the shadows to be unleashed to us later how he really is. It's always been apparent that he's kinda weird (the nut crushing at that meeting etc). Him becoming an influential bad guy would be a nice upset to how good all the Starks have been so far. Kinda like how some of the Lannisters became sympathetic, but the other way around. I could totally see the expected storyline being messed up like that.

[ChipEaterMan]

Nice party!

[wufwugy]

I'm confused about that. They were set up to be something super important, atleast that's what it seemed like. And now they didn't even auto-attack Jon's assailtants? Bran had to Xavier them?

Good catch. That was quite strange.

I like to think he's purposely being kept in the shadows to be unleashed to us later how he really is. It's always been apparent that he's kinda weird (the nut crushing at that meeting etc). Him becoming an influential bad guy would be a nice upset to how good all the Starks have been so far. Kinda like how some of the Lannisters became sympathetic, but the other way around. I could totally see the expected storyline being messed up like that.

Another good catch with the Lannister contrast. The writers like showing how the bad guys aren't all so bad, but not so much how the good guys are instead bad. There's a whole lot ripe about having somebody like Rickon turn dark. Hell, Bran not being there for Rickon could be the catalyst

[ChipEaterMan]

Almost better than this scene:

[ChipEaterMan]

When will this dude reapear?

[jackvance]

I don't like his new face though. But he's still my favorite character!

[boost]

the cool thing is, they can give him a new face! I'd almost expect him to have a new face next time we see him. And I think we are assured to see him again with Arya more or less name dropping him to The Hound.

[Penneywize]

So much discussion to catch up on.

You guys cite quite a few instances that hint at Bolton's betrayal. Yes there are some hints even back in season 2 that this kind of trouble might be brewing. The one that did it for me was that Winterfell was razed at the end of that season, when it was supposed to be the northerners liberating it. We knew that Bolton sent his bastard to ask for Theon's surrender; this ultimately happens, and then, ... what the fuck, Winterfell razed to the ground? This, to me, is the best foreshadowing to Bolton's betrayal. Of course, it becomes pretty obvious with later occurrences; Theon's torture, the release of Jaime, and so on.

Re Ygritte. It's hard to say that Jon had this well-thought-out plan to leave her, escape, and then come back for her as Wuf sort of hinted at. It seems to me more logical that Jon stopped her from shooting the old man because he felt he was innocent, and wouldn't want that on his conscience. He pushes her out of the way when making his escape because he knew he couldn't kill her. That's all, imo. He probably never really harboured all that much love for her. He's just a softy.

Well, whatever. We'll see. Ygritte is too good a character to have written out of the story, so I'm sure there's more to come on her, and probably more interaction with Snow.

@ Wuf - the reason the Unsullied Officer Dude isn't an important character has little to do with his wearing of a helmet in combat (I'd see your point if this was some standalone movie, but here...) and more to do with the fact that A: He doesn't speak the common tongue, and an American audience has only so much patience to read subtitles while listening to some BS made-up language; B: He has no testicles, making him hard to root for, and C: He's very young.

[boost]

I'd say Jon certainly loves her. They built that up since they met. It's not a one sided thing.

He shoved her out of the way, not to make an escape but to stop her from shooting a Wildling. Once she does that, she has no people. Jon can always run back to Castle Black... she can't really come with him, and he wasn't able to chop the guy's head off.

If she kills a Wildling, and even if they win the fight, killing them all, then what?

[jackvance]

the cool thing is, they can give him a new face! I'd almost expect him to have a new face next time we see him. And I think we are assured to see him again with Arya more or less name dropping him to The Hound.

Yeah if I think about it more I can see how they could reintroduce him with a new face so that he can be in the show already without us knowing. A definite possibility. Preferably at a time Arya is having it difficult. But she's going to be with the Hound for a while, he's getting his character development now you can feel the show is putting importance on him, so it's not going to be for this season.

[Penneywize]

By the way. I did my best not to give this away in any of my posts, but I had the death of Robb Stark spoiled for me about a year ago.

Want to know how?

I was playing Mechwarrior Online and dropped in a match with a dude named Robb Stark on my team. Some asshole on the other team says over global chat: "Robb Stark? Spoiler alert: You die!"

FML. Well that is the last major spoiler I am aware of. Now to dodge the minefield that is the rest of 2013 and beginning of 2014 before next season starts.

[baudib]

Just want to talk about Red Wedding a bit. I cannot express to you how shocking reading the scene in the book was. So I knew it was coming.

Moreover, I knew how HBO had changed it. We were working on a story about it and our writer talked to GRRM as well as the actors, and he saw an advance showing of it. He told me how they changed it.

How the fuck can you take the most shocking, tragic scene in all of fantasy lore and make it even worse? Bunch of sickos.

Knowing all this, seeing it was still a shock. The pure brutality of it and Walder Frey's callousness was stunning. Amazing TV.

[wufwugy]

I think Snow is making the right decision. Probably the only way he can save anybody is if he gets to Castle Black before anybody else. I don't think he is betraying Ygritte as much as he is trying to save her. He's got the honor streak just like every other Stark, and will have a woman he loves hate him if that's what it takes to maintain it. But it's not just honor and duty, but actually helping people. I can't predict what, but I'm guessing Snow will be integral in keeping a lot of wildlings from dying. Regardless, Snow and Ygritte are not ending up together because the super long game is Snow and Dany doing so

Maybe the reason they didn't show the slave surrender is because it was probably at the behest of Grey Worm giving them a quick speech while they wallowed in their decisions, and they didn't want to show this because he's not a significant character. But even then, they could have just had Jorah do it. Really is so dumb that they didn't show the surrender process. It wouldn't have taken much screen time and would have been one of the most intense moments of the episode.

I'm honestly pleased that Robb is dead, as I've wanted him dead ever since his idiot ass married Talisa. That was just so dumb even without hindsight. The first thing I thought when he married her was how he signed his death warrant by breaking his oath and alienating key allies. Dumbass would still be alive if he just fought the fucking war first and then focused on marriage afterwards. I even find it a little implausible that Robb would marry that girl in the middle of a campaign in the first place, which goes to how unbearably stupid it was.

He was one of my favorite characters until that marriage. I don't root for characters who make obviously terrible choices. It probably fits much better if his age was the same as in the book (17 or something?) because then he would be a teenager, and everybody (other than teenagers) knows that they make asinine decisions

Did Robb get stabbed in the chest? If so, my theory that the region of the leeches on Gendry's body correlates with what will happen to each usurper is intact. So my guess is that Balon will die of some stomach virus (maybe poison) and Shae will catch Teh Joff trying to rape Sansa and will slice his dick off. I seriously doubt those will happen, but is a guess. I honestly don't want them to happen either

Did Blackfish survive the massacre? I hope so, he's legit. I have half a mind that the Tully's were not killed, and that Edmure really is married to the Frey girl now. Even though it could be implied that he was killed in his bed with her, they probably would have shown that if it happened. Also, who is Blackfish: Cat's brother or uncle?

[baudib]

Thing is I was really starting to like Talisa as a character, and wasn't sure she'd be killed in RW.

Blackfish is the uncle of Catelyn, Edmure and Lysa Arryn. Since you asked about canonical knowledge I'll put this in spoilers. Others, like Bikes and renton, can probably answer this better but

Spoiler: Show

In the books, Blackfish is not killed at RW. I'm not certain he was at RW though. The book at least strongly implies that virtually every northman at the Twins was murdered. I'm not sure how his character will develop now as one of his key roles is diminished by plot changes but Blackfish is one of the few surviving Stark loyalists.

[Renton]

Thing is I was really starting to like Talisa as a character, and wasn't sure she'd be killed in RW.

Blackfish is the uncle of Catelyn, Edmure and Lysa Arryn. Since you asked about canonical knowledge I'll put this in spoilers. Others, like Bikes and renton, can probably answer this better but

Spoiler: Show

In the books, Blackfish is not killed at RW. I'm not certain he was at RW though. The book at least strongly implies that virtually every northman at the Twins was murdered. I'm not sure how his character will develop now as one of his key roles is diminished by plot changes but Blackfish is one of the few surviving Stark bannerman.

Book clarification for baudib.

Spoiler: Show

Brynden Blackfish was left behind to lead the garrison at Riverrun.

[Juked07]

I was shocked at the wedding scene, and now I'm thinking it's brilliant that GoT had some relatively boring to watch wedding scenes fairly recently to keep us off our toes right before the massacre (as a relatively casual watcher I had absolutely no idea it was coming until the chainmail). Immediately afterwards though, I thought "This is good. Every death is a good death because the show is too fucking huge."

Also, who is Blackfish: Cat's brother or uncle?

I don't know, but the question reminds me of "But your brother will become your father-in-law, that much is beyond dispute" =D

[wufwugy]

I'm looking forward to Bran warging a walker. I'd consider it somewhat lame if he could warg a dragon because those are beyond special power beings, but a walker would be sick in every way. It could introduce some crazy dark shit. If Rickon is warg then maybe he's the one who gets inside the mind of a walker. Of course, we don't really know what "inside the mind" consists of, but it would be nice if it meant the wargs experience the being's thoughts and emotions and stuff

There could also be a limit to the warging in that only simple minds can be penetrated. Hodor and dogs are possible, but somebody like Dany or Stannis or any normal person may not be

[bikes]

https://vine.co/v/b3XZMHmxzxh


maisie williams's "arya" reaction

[Penneywize]

Is it too much to ask if we can get rid of the book stuff in this thread (please)? Even under spoiler tags. It really just doesn't belong here... I just want one place on the internet I can read a discussion on GoT without a book reader chiming in with his superior information.

I would greatly appreciate it. If Bikes won't do it I'd hope the people discussing it would take it upon themselves to remove the comments. Again, please.

[boost]

https://vine.co/v/b3XZMHmxzxh


maisie williams's "arya" reaction

haha, this is amazing.

[Penneywize]

haha, this is amazing.

Yeah s'ok

[d0zer]

pennywize quit being a baby about spoilers and having incorrect opinions about vine videos

[Penneywize]

pennywize quit being a baby about spoilers and having incorrect opinions about vine videos

Fuck spoilers RAAAAAARRGHGHHHGHH



In other news, Dany runs into some issues with the Unsullied choosing their own names:

[jackvance]

Is it too much to ask if we can get rid of the book stuff in this thread (please)? Even under spoiler tags. It really just doesn't belong here... I just want one place on the internet I can read a discussion on GoT without a book reader chiming in with his superior information.

I would greatly appreciate it. If Bikes won't do it I'd hope the people discussing it would take it upon themselves to remove the comments. Again, please.

Agreed.

[wufwugy]

On rewatch I notice that while the wildlings were storming the horse breeder's hut, Snow hit the rock with his sword to alert the horses and thus the old man. This means he was looking to save the most unimportant person on the Crows' side, which means that he's been faking his betrayal of them the whole time. I'm a sucker for romance, so I tend to not want to this kind of betrayal, but it looks like Snow is fine with the idea. It's strange, though, because some previous scenes made it really look like he couldn't

The Freys are the McPoyles of Westeros. Also, this was a matter of revenge in the face of wisdom, and they will get destroyed because of it.

I really like the dynamic suggested at with the horse dying just after Bran wargs Hodor. Magic use costing life is a cool enough idea. I've only seen it used one other time. However, even though the editing suggests at it, they also show the dead horse with arrows or spears or something in it, so maybe they didn't mean it like that. Very strange editing if that's the case.

Watch Hound's face after he punches Arya in the back of the head and carries her away. That's the face of a very angry man. Hopefully angry enough that he gets back at those who killed his payday. Maybe it was subpar editing, but Hound really did look pissed. I want nothing more than a pissed off Hound

Looks like Blackfish was just out for a piss

[boost]

I don't see how we can really read into Snow's abandoning of Igritte too much. He could have been faking it the whole time. He could have just figured that she couldn't come with him right then, and he had no time to explain that and say goodbye. If anything I'd say the latter is more probable, given all the lovey dovey scenes.

[boost]

[jackvance]

I hope Jon was faking his love for igritte to survive but honestly I think given the way they're trying to portray him he's gonna be doing it with her best interest at heart.

[ensign_lee]

What what the the fuck fuck just happened. O.o

Le sad face.

Also, credit to bbickes: https://vine.co/v/b3XZMHmxzxh

[JKDS]

Just caught this: The song played during the wedding was the Reins of Castamere, (Lannister's banner song). Cat heres this and goes "WTF" then flips out and sees the chainmail and stuff.

[Penneywize]

On rewatch I notice that while the wildlings were storming the horse breeder's hut, Snow hit the rock with his sword to alert the horses and thus the old man.

I knew this and this motivated my first answer. He was obviously concerned for the well-being of the innocent old man. I agree however that he does care about Ygritte. As for having some far-reaching idea of how he's going to reunite with her, doubtful. I think his actions were meant to be interpreted as spur-of-the-moment. Of course he wasn't going to run Ygritte through (with his sword, I mean) right then and there.

Dunno, I'll give it a rewatch tonight.

[Penneywize]

Soooo, this is going to sound like it's coming out of left field, but:

Ser Davos is missing his fingers on one hand. It is pretty clear that Stannis himself cut them off as a punishment for smuggling.

Did he cut them off after Ser Davos smuggled in the food to the keep Stannis was protecting on Robert Baratheon's order (the name escapes me)?

[wufwugy]

Ser Davos wasn't Ser when he smuggled in the onions. It was after Robert won the war that Stannis knighted Davos for his bravery during war, but also chopped off his fingers as justice for Davos' criminal past. Davos considered it a fair dealing

It's meant to show Stannis' commitment to the law, Davos' commitment to Stannis, and how impoverished Davos was before Stannis saw it befitting to reward him

[baudib]

Some stuff I was thinking about families in GoT:
My guess is that GRRM has a fucked up family or something.

Other than arguably Davos and his dead son, it seems that there are no familial relations where anyone seems to share any personality traits at all.

Among siblings: Robb Stark is very different from Bran and Rickon. All the boys seem to have inherited Ned's bravery; Robb has some of the charisma but not the wisdom. That seems to have gone to Bran, who of course is now physically impaired. Sansa and Arya could not be more dissimilar.

The Baratheons: Robert, Renly, Stannis. Again, as dissimilar as three brothers could be.

The Lannisters: The same to a lesser extent. Jaime and Cersei, as incestuous twins, share cruelty and all three are rather cunning, but of course Tyrion's a drunken dwarf and Jaime is (was) one of the greatest swordsman of the realm.

Dany and Viserys: Dany is proving herself to be a bold and capable leader who inspires loyalty and love. Viserys was a sniveling fool and apparently didn't inherit the dragon gene.

Brienne and Samwell both hate their noble fathers.

The Hound and the Mountain hate each other.

I suppose it makes for more tension and better drama when there is infighting within families, but it also seems that GRRM was trying to say something about siblings and parents.

[Fielmann]

The Tyrells seem to be quite a harmonious lot. Perhaps also Tullys.

Other than that it's quite terrible indeed. Besides the ones you mentioned there are Stannis' wife and daughter, the Mormonts, the Caster, the Frey, the Lysa Arryn. Brr.

[boost]

You think this would be atypical of ruling families? In the game of thrones...

[JKDS]

Given the circumstances these families have been through, im not surprised there are differences. Think of all the kids in your life who ever said they hated their parents, now compare their circumstances to those of the characters in GoT. Im not too surprised that the relationships dont show many similarities.

However, the ones that they do show are pretty remarkable, and I think defeats your argument. Like those with the lannisters and starks. While i think its clear that people will deal with trouble in different ways, its remarkable that these familys have stayed true to their house's moral code through it all. We have yet to see a dishonorable stark, or an unproud lannister...and I think if the families were as dysfunctional as you claim then we would.

[jackvance]

I don't think it reflects on GMMR's family, this is more of a story and intrigue thing. It would also be pretty unrealistic if they were all the same. And they are still very family-bound, like at the beginning of the show all the Lannisters are arrogant jackasses (except Tyrion but he has his own problems, due to being born a dwarf), and the Starks, while all having their differences, are all still very loyal-based people, like their father inspired them.

[a500lbgorilla]

[boost]

Live Band!

[Stacks]

[bikes]

is it sunday yet?

[Stacks]

All book readers after last Sundays show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2igpkco7PzQ

(yes, reddit)

[wufwugy]

[wufwugy]

[wufwugy]

I have a nifty idea. Dany becomes unbearably powerful. Three enormous dragons, a conquered Essos, freed slave army of 500k, but as she's about to lead them across the Narrow Sea, one of her dragons dies for some strange reason. Then Dany goes bonkers and becomes like the Mad King, and at some point Jorah has to decide whether or not to kill her to to save millions. s10e10, Jorah's the Queenslayer

[a500lbgorilla]

All book readers after last Sundays show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2igpkco7PzQ

(yes, reddit)

Mine was sadness at how few sweet, summer children are left.

[ChipEaterMan]

Game of Thrones: Red Wedding Reactions Compilation

[wufwugy]

I guess I have no predictions for the finale, but I do have one thing to point out. I think the writers are in a very clear situation where they need to avoid any sort of wrap-up, and instead use the finale to set up s4. More specifically, due to how big of the blow the Red Wedding was to the audience, the writers need to focus on showing the audience that those responsible are going to get fuuuuuuucked. There would be no better way to get the audience anticipating s4.

So basically, if I was writing this, I would spend a good ten minutes showing the reactions of the Northerners. The Freys broke so many rules that everybody will hate them, especially those aligned with the Starks, but also those who aren't. We need to see the Tullys vow vengeance, the Karstarks, the Umbers, the Arryns.

[Penneywize]

I'm not sure the Karstarks would give a fuck. Who's in line after old man Karstark was executed, anyway? Were we introduced to him at some point

Edit: You know who's really good for brooding and condemning and vowing retaliation? Robb Sta.. oh, never mind.

[jackvance]

I really wonder what is going to happen now that such a power vaccuum has been created in the north. I hope the season finale is gonna be better than last season's, which was a bit of a disappointment compared to episode 9. But this time there is so much going that I have good hopes for the episode.

[wufwugy]

An argument could be made for Karstarks either way depending on what the writers wanted to do with it. Before Robb killed the main dude, they were always super close, but it wouldn't have to be so much about defending the Starks as destroying the Freys. What they did is wrong on so many levels. At the very least they should be ostracized by every other family, but really the other families should feel it's their honorable duty to destroy the Freys now

[wufwugy]

I really wonder what is going to happen now that such a power vaccuum has been created in the north. I hope the season finale is gonna be better than last season's, which was a bit of a disappointment compared to episode 9. But this time there is so much going that I have good hopes for the episode.

My guess is Tyrion becomes the Lord of Winterfell.

The slaughter of Robb wasn't about taking power of the North, but just vengeance. It isn't even so much a Bolton/Frey alliance as it is that Roose is part Frey through marriage. The rest of the North won't let the Freys have any more control, and once the Lannisters make claim by way of Sansa, the other families will probably compromise

Ofc the Greyjoys will still be in rebellion

[wufwugy]

isnt the finale always a 90 min ep or something?

[jackvance]

Tyrion lord of Winterfell, makes sense with his marriage to Sansa. The one person standing out to me to get a more prominent part now is the eunuch Theon Greyjoy. He has been getting so much screentime it has to be leading up to something. So many possibilities though, I'm not even gonna hazard a guess..

[wufwugy]

My first guess is that they just fucking dump him in a ditch somewhere, and he wakes up with no money, no balls, and nobody who cares

My second is that Yara gets wind of what's going on and saves him. She seems the type who might not put up with her brother being tortured. Balon might reject, but she also might tell him to go fuck himself. She may or may not have that power. It works a little better with my leech theory where Balon comes down with some stomach flu poison or something.

[jackvance]

Your first guess seems more likely to me than your second. He'll have hit absolute rock bottom and has to fight his own way back. Makes him more of a sympathetic person after the whole Winterfell fiasco (from the standpoint of the viewers). I'd say it's quite likely that in either case he's going to ally up with his sister because she's about the only person he can turn to.

[wufwugy]

WTF I thought Ilyn Payne killed Ned. This dude looks nothing like Ilyn

[Penneywize]

I agree Tyrion is the logical lord of winterfell given that the rest of the world has been fooled into thinking that Bran and Rickon were actually roasted alive at the hands of Theon

You'd think it would get out that they're actually alive

[Penneywize]

Agree that doesn't look a thing like Illen, dunno wtf is up with that

[boost]

Looks like Payne to me :shrug:

I really wonder what is going to happen now that such a power vaccuum has been created in the north. I hope the season finale is gonna be better than last season's, which was a bit of a disappointment compared to episode 9. But this time there is so much going that I have good hopes for the episode.

s01e10 was the falling action as well... expect the same from s03e10. They could switch it up on us, but their style has followed the rising action, climax, falling action pattern for the first two season, and has stuck with it so far for this season. Probably just following the books, where a cliff hanger is far less common than it is in television. Honestly I prefer it. It feels a lot less like a cheap way to sell advertising, and instead feels like actual art for arts sake.

[Penneywize]

Illen is bald, dude.

I'd throw up a google image but I'd probably get spoiled on something major like seeing a drawimg of him skewering Cersei and Dany in one long thrust.

Hehe, double entendres.

[Fielmann]

The person on the gif is wearing a hood, so he can easily be bald. Also, his eyes look like Ilyn's eyes to me.

[ChipEaterMan]

The Imp likes to party all night long. Many women have sexual fantasies with midgets

[boost]

The person on the gif is wearing a hood, so he can easily be bald. Also, his eyes look like Ilyn's eyes to me.

This.

You suck at viewing low res .gifs, Pennywize.

[wufwugy]

shit dont look like a hood, but the matted top and puffy ear waves of a long-haired individual

[wufwugy]

Hound is the best.

Better than the best

[bikes]

in this story only one thing is certain.

you know nothing, jon snow.

[Renton]

Pretty subpar episode. A series with only 10 hours to tell its story needs not to have episodes where almost nothing of actual consequence happens.

[Fielmann]

One thing I really like about this series is the fact that it's not overly concerned about advancing the plot and instead takes its time to just enjoy itself. (The pushing of chairs by Cersei and Tyrion some 4-6 episodes ago comes to mind, but there are really many scenes like that.)

That said, this episode wasn't spectacular, but that was also expected.

*

In the end I like the way Tyrion was handled this season. As I have expressed before he is one of the most fundamentally tragic characters of the show and this last episode did a good work in developing his conflicts. I guess the transition from action-centred Tyrion we saw in the first two seasons was a bit unexpected, which is why his storyline seemed boring and "stuck" in the middle of this season, but it all makes sense now.

I don't quite understand the significance of Shae vs lord Varys scene. Was her "he can tell me so himself!" supposed to mean that she suspects Tyrion sent Varys? In any case we can be sure that she won't be as boring and unnecessary next season.

Bran will probably be more interesting next season too, now that they're finally beyond the wall.

Arya's storyline obviously went from good to awesome. What I especially like is that her awesomeness is completely believable and motivated.

Ygritte's way of saying good-bye was convincing. We probably won't see her for a while.

In Theon's scene, once again, nothing happened that hadn't happened there two or three times before. Fortunately his scenes (unlike Bran's scenes for example) are fun to watch because of the situation, dialogue and acting. (See also the first paragraph in this post.) (As a side note, I think Bolton's son's letter to Greyjoy was surprising vulgar for his standards, though it was probably optimal for the purpose.)

Dany's scene was ridiculous. In a lot of ways, her storyline this season was like that of Theon's, i.e. lots of absurd sameness. I hope next season something will arise between her companions at least. There is some potential as they all are very interesting characters and there are at least two or three big reasons for conflicts between them.

*

I have to think hard about what to do the next forty or so Monday mornings.

[jackvance]

I nominate this for best episode of the series yet. It had so many things that pushed my buttons. Arya and the Hound, they go so well together. The casual 'this is what I do' face the hound makes when he slaughters those people, priceless. Then Arya summoning Jaqen!! Can't wait to see how that turns out.

Tywin taming Geoffrey like he said he would was nice, and then the Tywin-Tyrion moment. I also liked the Tyrion and Sansa dialogue where Sansa proposes the prank. I think she can learn to appreciate him, because he is one of the few people that is honerable like her father was. Shae better take the advice given by Varys and leave.

The Jon/Sam/Bran plot is moving along nicely, coupled with Stannis getting the five oh on the White Walker invasion managed to portray the invasion from undead from the north to be very scary. Can't wait to see how the rest of the world will react. And speaking of Stannis, all the things Ser Davos said this episode were really good, not in the least what he had to say about using blood magic, and Stannis' reply about the Targaeryans using dragon and magic.

The Red Lady is a big mystery to me, in one way she seems omnipotent, she has magic and it seems to work, she went and fetched Stannis' nephew, but she also has her own flawed motives. It's difficult to predict to what degree she is in control of things. But I like her role. She adheres to the Red God, who has obvious power, or atleast his servants do. This puts some unknown power into play.

Theon being bullied by Bolton's bastard. I love how his sister immediately marched out to go rescue him. Pretty much what I hoped would happen. Those two are going to be doing great things in the future while the father fades away in importance, you can tell by the flow of the story.

And finally Daenarys grasping her power, I'm a sucker for those kinds of powerful moments. The only thing that is a bit off about Danni and her quest is that the freeing of the slaves and the great importance she puts on this matter isn't really well grounded in her past. As in, why would she be so fervent about freeing slaves, and why does it matter so much? I can understand, but it isn't really motivated in the series all that much. But all in all great setup for a powerful player in the game of thrones that they'll soon be all hearing about.

[jackvance]

Seriously, I may be a bit biased because I'm such a fantasy buff, but I find this the best series (including movies and any sort of other media) that I have seen.