axels15

They didn't get as far as I thought they would in this episode... Does this mean no Lady Stoneheart at the end of the final episode? I'll be so disappointed.

UGH 2 WEEKS?!?!?!

9 for me! Only blemish I saw on an otherwise fantastic episode was now I really am coming around to the thought that... it's enough with Theon. We get it.

He was actually saying he had the pen in hand to write the order for the Kingsguard. So I'm pretty sure she agreed to the marriage. Regardless, I doubt it will happen.

Lol I misread. I enjoy the other scenes. Also, you missed the one with Robb, which I think was fairly faithful

I think you're completely right on Shae. Good call. As for Loras, while I'm sure Olenna did probably agree there, I'd imagine Loras will flat out refuse, and become Kingsguard

I disagree about the Arya scenes making her look weak. I thought she was fantastic in this episode. The scenes with Jaime were simply outstanding, and I really enjoyed the opening scene and the one with Jon and Ygritte. Solid episode

That would be my thought. Sorry, didn't realize this was even a debate, lol, I'll check the other threads. Anyway, loved the episode! 10 for me.

I can't see anyway the Purple Wedding happens in this season. There's only six more episodes and so much more to happen!? How can anyone actually believe they're doing both?

I loved the episode, but I'm going to focus on one thing. I don't trust Varys. Not at all. That early scene with him and Tyrion, the way he spoke about dark magics... I know his whole story, and why he would be bothered by magic, but I don't trust him. Anyway, loved the episode, imo, best of the series. Carry on

imdb shows ten episodes. They prob just made a mistake

They are taking a lot of liberties, but I still think the episode works overall. Honestly, the only change that worries me is why Jon will kill the Halfhand... they can't change something so fundamental to his character, right? Other Changes: The timing (and therefore reason) of Cat freeing Jaime. In the books, she learns that two of her sons (Bran and Rickon) are "Dead" and in a fit of motherly rage(?), she frees Jaime in order to broker a deal with the imp to free her daughters. In the show, she does it before learning of Bran and Rickon, and does so because she knows Jaime will be killed (Which would spell the deaths her daughters, without a doubt). So, I don't have a problem with it. Both choices were fueled by motherly tendencies, and so the basis is intact. It just makes her a little worse, cause she doesn't have the excuse of grief. Jaime killing his cousin - Don't really have any issue with it, because it will make his redemption that much more important to viewers, which I'm sure is what they were going for. Also, he's been in like, 2 episodes, they needed to give him an extended scene so the audience didn't forget about him. The Dragon storyline continues to change. Again, I have no issue with this. Her story in the book is, imo, kinda uninteresting until the house of the undying, and by then it's almost "what's the point?" Now there is a point! The whole thing with Xaro betraying her to be king, that's weird, but it certainly fits in with the character they've made him into, so consistency. And, as I mentioned, Jon Snow. Captured by Wildlings, somewhat early and without the Halfhand. It looked in the scenes from next week like he might attempt an escape, which would then allow him to get back to the halfhand, and then would lead everything up as it should be. If he stays with the Wildlings, though, then it becomes another issue. It'll be interesting to see where they go with it, but I do hope they don't drastically change his character. Things I liked: The Arya/Tywin scene was spectacular, as always. It does require some suspension of disbelief that Tywin would simply strike up conversations with his serving girl, but once you get past that, it's a wonderful scene, with not a little bit of snark. I will be disappointed when the opportunity for them to be together ends. Theon's scenes - He's really a great actor, though I imagine everyone who haven't read the books are really going to be calling for his blood after this episode. One thing I will say is that it could have been slightly more obvious who the hanging bodies were supposed to be — Both my father and my friend, who haven't read the books, asked me who the hanging, charred bodies were, because he never really says their names. I had to deadpan and say Bran and Rickon without giving up any spoilers. That was REALLY difficult, I'm not the best at poker. Jaime/Cat scene - While for one reason or another, Jaime's first scene didn't do it for me (probably because he's one of my favorite characters and I prefer "Redeemed Jaime," his scene with Cat was perfect. The quips about Brienne were especially funny and I can't wait for them to get more screen time together. Sansa/Shae - I'm well aware how much of a hated character Shae is by many of the book readers, but I thought this scene was pretty damn good. Sansa's horror at having her first "flowering" was a stronger reason than in the books (coming from a male, so please don't kill me if I'm a bit off) And Shae is become more of a 'real' character in my mind, which will make her betrayal in the end so much more important (although also slightly strange, because why protect sansa but betray tyron? This will have to be adressed) Ygritte - Favorite part of the show right now. She's just really outstanding, and while I am worried about what's going on with Jon's story, I can't say that I don't enjoy the extra time she is getting to spend with him. Imo, she's rivaling Peter Dinklage in humor (who strangely didn't get a lot of screen time today) Honestly, nothing stood out to me as something I didn't like. Except maybe Dany's scene with Mormont. I know she's in grieving, but honestly, to me she sounds like a spoiled brat. This probably has to do with me not really liking her character in general. I'd love to hear other opinions on this, because maybe I'm not being fair to her? I have a few worries of where the show will end up, but they're minor. I'm loving the show and I can't wait to see where it goes from here!

You're exactly right. But like I said, this is for television now. A chase scene is good for TV. Turning around and letting her walk away isn't. Furthermore, because we're not going to see a Shakespeare-like Montage, and because we can't hear Jon's thoughts, simple turning around and letting her go doesn't serve to show what a difficult decision it is. He has to make a choice and he can't. So he runs after her, fearing what will happen if she goes free. Eventually, he'll get back to his men, and let her go, I think. If he doesn't, it's a big change and something that I'll have to review as we get to it. But as of now, assuming it goes how I think, it doesn't change anything significantly and I think it adds to the television production.

She needed to be free. That way she wasn't locked up under guard

Jesus, man, chill out He chases her because he didn't LET her go. He just didn't KILL her. She's still a wilding who can give away their position if she goes free. It's a freaking conundrum for him. It's called drama and building tension. Eventually he will probably HAVE to let her go, for the reasons you said. But it's a difficult decision between honor/loyalty and not wanting to kill a women. It's basically a small sample of his ENTIRE plot for book three. I think it's perfect Yes, it's a change from the book, but deal with it. It's not huge, it works for TV and it's fun Also, she did not answer every question, basically didn't answer the most important one. WHY are the wildlings gathering there?

I'd argue that it's pretty damn impressive for him to get that blow dart into him without anyone seeing, I mean, that hallway can't have been too big. Maybe not supernatural, but damn talented

This was by far my favorite episode of the season. I give it 9/10, but only because I don't think anything can be truly perfect. The Good: -Ygritte - I could not stop saying throughout the episode how much I liked her. What a great casting, I'm absolutely stunned. I found it a little strange for Jon to be separated from the other Nights Watch brothers, but I'm sure it'll work itself out in the end. As long as they don't change the real reason for Jon killing the HalfHand (Following orders) then I am completely fine with it - Arya/Tywin/LittleFinger -I love those scenes, I really do, and even though I know LittleFinger never recognizes Arya, because it never happened in the books and would have been very difficult to explain, it was still nerve-wracking. It was done extremely well. (I say it could never happen, but considering Dany lost the Dragons, I suppose anything can happen?) - Robb/'Talissa' - So we're setting her up to be a spy then, and actually probably is Jeyne Westerling? I'm fine with that, it makes sense to me, I enjoy it. -Theon - Wow was that opening scene great or what? Just the facial expressions from Theon when deciding about Roderik, I couldn't help myself from feeling some strong sorrow and even, maybe, sympathy? - The Riot Scene (and before) - More or less straight out of the books, correct? The anger from Tyrion, the stupidity of Joffrey, the savior-ness(?) of The Hound, and the fear from Sansa were all portrayed wonderfully. When the Septon got torn apart... wow (Speaking of which, Theon cutting off Roderick's head was awesomely gory and a good juxtaposition to the man Ned executes at the beginning of season one - Dany's first scene - Names escape me, but where she is requesting the ships - That man is wonderfully deviant and quite funny, and a little fierce too, when he wants to be. I think it was one of her best scenes in the show as well. The "I'm not sure yet" -Pretty much just the dragons at the end. I don't have a problem with it, and it makes it interesting. It certainly adds more to the House of the Undying, yes? The Bad -None? The Interesting:

Also probably less CGI. That stuff is Eeeeeeexpensive

I never made that connection!!! Thank you!!!

I think this episode did jump around a lot, but I'd argue that the previous two were actually very focused. I think this episode served as a fallout/setting up point for the next five episodes. It certainly seems like the next one in particular will be somewhat focused around Theon/Winterfell and reaction, plus Jon in the North, and I get the feeling Stannis/Davos may not even be in the next episode, considering they are "consolidating" the army. I definitely see what you mean though. I was a little disappointed with the actual Shadow Creature, and I was fully expecting it to come out of Renly's shadow. Perhaps it would have cost too much? That said, the build up, for someone who has read the book and knows what is going to happen, was intense in that scene and my heart was in my throat. I don't have a problem with what they did with margery's character because I honestly believe she had to have been that ambitious in the books. We're just getting a first hand look at it. I miss Jamie, but that's because his character doesn't really get to flourish until the third books anyway. Arya (Maisie) is tremendous, and the scene with her and Tywin was definitely my favorite. The Dany scenes don't do it for me, but that's because I really didn't like them in the books either, till near the end. What is everyone's problem with Qarth though?

I don't get the problem people are having with Qarth

I actually think they're doing a much better job in the show developing Renly. Also, based on next weeks scenes, it looks like Davos is taking Melisandre somewhere (presumably to have her "child") Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they do that to take over a castle, and NOT to kill Renly. (That scene came well after Renly's death, no?) So has Renly gotten a reprieve from dying just yet, and they'll leave that for later? Or are they just combining the two scenes to take away the ambiguity of how Renly dies?

Stuff like this, and the scene with Sansa/Shae, and with Lommy as Gendry, people who have read the book won't like them quite as much (although I did love the first two), but they are necessary, or at least important, to the viewers who haven't read the books, which i imagine is quite a few people. We have Sansa's POVs and we know she feels terrified, but the audience doesnt. We know, especially after the fifth book, how Theon feels, but the audience doesn't. I especially liked how they made it seem like a difficult decision in the show, because in the book, it just kind of jumps without us seeing the decision-making process.