McGinnis

I gave this one a 9/10. Not sure if I'd say it was the best episode of the season, although it's certainly up there. I thought that the Pycelle + Ros scene was unnecessary, not just because Ros isn't "supposed" to be there, but it just felt a bit awkward and (for me, at least) took some of the pacing from the episode. In contrast to some others I actually liked the Littlefinger + Varys scene, although I agree that they're probably being set up a bit too much. They're definitely better in the books, but I don't hate them on the show either. The last scene really had me worried. Until it happened, that is. What a fantastic way to end the episode and the season. Night's Watch scene at the end was just as good. Even though I know everything that's going to happen, I still felt like I needed to see the next episode immediately. From day one, Maisie Williams as Arya has been almost exactly how I pictured her (both physically and in attitude etc). Loved her last scene as well. Looking forward to seeing some juicy Tyrion/Cersei rivalry in the next season.

Voted 9. I think they handled most of the episode extremely well. "Stuff is finally starting to happen," to quote one of my non-reader friends (all of whom love the show more with each episode - in fact, one of them is considering the books because of it). I loved the way Dany threatened Viserys after he attacked her. I might be misremembering, but she didn't do that in the book, did she? I really should know this since I've already read it 3 times, but oh well. Loving Kit Harington as Jon Snow, but then again I thought he was perfect pretty much from the first episode. I didn't care too much for the Viserys + Doreah bathtub scene, but I did like how Viserys's mood suddenly changed at the end of it. Really shows his character in a way the books didn't. I was afraid it was just going to be a gratuitous sex scene between them, but then the scene redeemed itself. Could have been a bit shorter, though. They also established Thorne as a prick, but he does kind of speak the truth. Liking Sam so far, but I'll have to see how they handle him in season 2-3 when he starts to play a more important part. Was nice to finally see some of Ghost this time around. They should have at least shown him walking next to Jon in episode 3. I thought the pacing was very good as well this time around, though I still think the show would have been much better with those extra 2 episodes GRRM wanted. I found Littlefinger telling Sansa the Hound's backstory with Gregor a little weird, and I'd have preferred if Sandor actually told that story himself. However, knowing about LF's interest in Sansa with regards to the later books, I do think that this kind of has its place, too. I'm not all that bothered by it.