HokieStone

That was pretty much confirmed a few seasons ago when he had his sit-down with Bran....

I'm sorry, but I have to echo the sentiment of Dragon_Rider upthread. First, you're watching a show that has progressed beyond the books. And then you purposely watch a segment where the whole point is that the producers talk about how certain storylines came about. And you're complaining about being spoiled? I can't really fathom your rationale here.

I don't think the 3 Eyed Raven in the show was Bloodraven. They've never taken the time to explain the history of the Targaryens beyond the Mad King. It would be a long exposition that most people wouldn't follow. And I believe an episode or two ago, this 3ER said something to the effect that he's been in that tree for 1000 years - which is much longer than book 3ER (Crow).

Well, I guess they should have joined the Night's Watch, then.

Like here?

I'm wondering if we'll see Ramsay's demise next episode. Everyone is focusing on the Tower of Joy scene shown in the preview for next week, but there's a quick bit with Ramsay - someone (presumably the Karstark guy) says "we brought you a gift, and you see Ramsay turn around with a big smile on his face. I can see him being extremely confident only to turn around for his "gift", with someone saying "The North Remembers" as they gut him. They've apparently cast the Smalljon for this season, so perhaps it will be him. However...in the previews for the whole season, we've seen glimpses of a big battle, with the Bolton bannermen on one side, so it's unlikely they'll be marching to battle if they have no lord. And I'm not sure why the Karstarks would be anti-Bolton's at the moment.

How much less could you care?

How much less could you care?

I LOL'd when Theon stabbed the soldier through the back, and then they changed camera angles...to show the soldier had his shield covering his entire back.

Don't you mean "Phil Simms"? ;)

Hmmm...Ramsay telling Theon that he needs to take a castle back from a bad man, and he needs his help...will they change it so that Theon is the one that kills Balon? Also...in the preview, was that the Mountain we saw for a brief second (as some dude screamed for mercy)...and if so, is this actor #3 for that role?

Previews for next week showed Tywin & Company talking about Dany setting up shop as queen. Ser Jorah is still sending reports back to Kings Landing, I take it? Dany will find out around episode 9 or so, and that's when she'll banish him...

After the QoT says something like "I have to return to my seat and eat some of this food I bought", they pan wide to show the whole dais, and she walks in front of Margery and Joffrey - it looks like she might drop something in the cup at the points...but it's so far panned out, it's pretty hard to see.

For anyone still looking for it, the empty slot is the rightmost one - against her dress. It's not any of the stones against her skin, which makes it harder to see.

Agree - I had no expectation that they would bring her back this episode. In fact, I think it should happen just as it does in the book. Bring her back in the very last scene of the very last episode next season. That will leave jaws dropping. I can see them playing it up during next season, dropping hints of a "Lady Stoneheart", maybe even showing a cloaked woman with Thoros, with some commentary that Beric finally died for good and the Brotherhood had a new leader. Probably give Arya a bad dream or two, as she sees through Nymeria's eyes. I'm guessing one of Walder's sons (maybe Merrett, maybe someone else) will become a more major character through next season...and then in the final episode the Brotherhood will catch him, hang him - and the reveal will be "Lady Stoneheart" pulling back her hood....cut to the credits... Then again, there seems to be a theme on ending the season with a Danaerys scene....

Yes...they've already resorted to Hodor pulling Bran in a cart rather than carrying him. Another season or two, and those two (Arya and Bran) are going to look like young adults, and not kids anymore.

The orphans were from a few episodes ago, when Bran sent them to help that guy build his walls (or whatever it was he wanted help with). Now they're bodies are the fake Rickon and Bran. I do find it curious that they didn't hide in the crypts. And how are they (or even WILL they) separate Bran and Rickon. Bran obviously needs Hodor to carry him, and Osha appears to be taking the place of the Reeds. When Bran and Rickon approached the farm, there was that shot of Summer and Shaggydog...and then later Theon and his band with their dogs. Theon fought with Robb and presumably saw the carnage that Grey Wind could do...I wonder if he had any thoughts about going after 2 direwolves with a handful of men and dogs...

Even more brutal...just as it happened, and Rodrik's head was rolling across the ground - I hear my 7 year old son - who had apparently snuck out of his bed, and down the stairs without me hearing him, standing behind me asking "Daddy, what are you watching?" Aw shit..."What did you see, son?" "Um...I saw a man cutting off another man's head". Fuck. Guess I'll be reading the board at 3:00 AM tonight after I deal with his nightmares...

Not at all what I pictured a ship from the Iron Isles to look like. I always pictured something more like a viking longship.

I'm kinda neutral on the Joffrey scene. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Whatever the story is, I'm sorry the guy who played the Mountain last year isn't back. The new guy isn't half as imposing. I completely understand why roles have to be merged, some storylines cut, etc. Even with all that, I fear that as the show goes on, it may start shedding viewers. We're almost halfway through the season, and we've had what, 5 minutes of Robb? Dany has had maybe 10-15 minutes, most of it tonight. Major characters from season 1 that are missing for entire episodes...and it's only going to get worse.

To pick up on a pronunciation thing...I was disconcerted by how Margaery pronounced her family's last name - something like "Tirrel". I've always pronounced it "Tie-Rell" or to that effect. That's it for now, maybe I'll check back in later if there's more actual discussion of the episode and less trolling back and forth.

I think this may be my least favorite episode of the entire series, although it did have it's high points as well. - Asha, er, "Yara" - My first reaction is "blah" - she doesn't show the same fire that she shows in the books. Hopefully she grows on me. - Hated the Littlefinger brothel scene. Hated it. Or at least, the first part, the voyeurism and the gag with wiping the whore's face off, and have her immediately kiss another man. It again smacks of "we're on HBO, we'll show this just because we can". - Stannis. Two episodes in, and I'm not buying Stannis yet. Personally, I never suspected a Stannis-Mel tryst in the books, but after seeing other comments, I can look back and see that it was hinted at. But the way it was done here...meh, that's not Stannis for me. But it's not just that...I will have trouble fully explaining, but he just doesn't fully act or talk like Stannis to me. For whatever reason, what jumped out at me in this episode was when he called Renly his "little brother". Maybe it's because to me "little brother" is most often used as a term of endearment...but I just don't ever see Stannis saying the words "My little brother".

There's lots of things in the books/show that break various laws of nature - the size of the wall, the random season length, dragons, etc. Skinny legs on the direwolves is low on the list...

Well, I just started Ysabel. I haven't read a Kay book since Last Light of the Sun, but his style is immediately recognizable. Let me say this - I like Kay a lot. Everything except the Fionavar Tapestry I've enjoyed. I'm only 100 pages or so into Ysabel, and I'm enjoying it, but let me say this - I think every character in every Kay book is damn near interchangeable. Every character is above average. I mean this in the sense of they're all very intelligent, very witty, and always "say the right thing". I dunno...like I say, I like Kay, but he really seems trapped into one character type.

testing