Sun

I took it as a hint from the show that Arya will indeed make it to the wall in TWOW. I'm likely wrong though lol

Both Nickolaj and Lena have blue eyes, not green. I think it references the people she will be killing in the not so far future - people we know she killed in the books - starting with Polliver. I really wish they had allowed Mel to say the blood of the wolf, smell of death line to Arya.

She did agree to the wedding. Tywin gave her a choice, either agree to the wedding, or he'll write the order inducting Loras into the King's Guard. She snapped the quill saying "it's a rare enough thing, a man who lives up to his reputation", meaning she agrees to the wedding because Tywin has left her no choice, thereby living up to his reputation of being a man who always gets his way.

Gave it a 7. Better than the first episode of the season, about level with the 2nd. Hated: The climb speech; Sophomoric, facile, and limp. That horrid schlock ending. Everything north of the wall. I can hardly recognize it as ASOIAF anymore, it feels more like Suzanne Collins than GRRM. Liked: Jaime/Brienne scene. Tyrion/Cersie interchange. Seizures as a side effect of the green dreams. The skinning of the rabbits reflected in the skinning of Theon's finger. Ros' end. Thoros/Mel interchange. Comic relief: Loras.

I just rewatched Robb's beheading of Karstark. It's such a beautifully shot scene. So atmospheric, dark and forboding with the rain pouring down on their heads mirroring the dampening gloom in the hearts of all in those attendance. The close up of Robb as he addresses KS, you can see each drop of water pounding down on his head as though each drop were laden with Karstark's words drilling into his scull. Those drops of water looked as though they weighed a ton. Then the beheading. One swift movement, and then a closeup of Robb's trembling fist, followed by him walking away, angry at the himself and the world. It was so so beautiful.

I agree with those who think Jon/Ygritte was unconvincing. It felt as frivolous and superficial as a pantomime. And I forgot to say earlier, Roose Bolton's face when he first saw Jaime's hand was masterful. Telegraphed his intentions most eloquently.

One further note; I get the feeling that this is an episode that will be loved a lot more by book readers than non-book readers.

The scene in the book differs slightly, but the gist is Ned Stark was the first rebel Lord to find Jaime, and he instantaneously, no questions asked, judged him a traitor . When Jaime saw the reaction from Ned - condemnation, derision in his eyes - his Lannister pride took over, and from that instant on, refused to humble himself by explaining his actions to Ned, or anyone else for that matter. He saw Ned's condemnation as hypocritical and morally superior, and his own actions righteous, and wouldn't humble himself by asking for anyone's, least of all the ever so honorable rebel lords. Also, and most crucially, once Tywin sacked the city and had Elia and her children murdered, no one would believe that Jaime, son of turncloak opportunist child murdering Tywin, had killed Aerys for any reason other than furthering his father's aims. This is how Ned came to the conclusion that Jaime is nothing more than a dishonorable Kingslayer.

Absolutely loved the episode, except for everything Jon/Ygritte. I find their relationship on the show so unconvincing it feels like a pantomime. Everything else however was perfect. Looks like Shireen will be Patchface, which should work really well, I think. Tara Fitzgerald, was great. A vast improvement on book Selyse. Ofcourse Shireen being blond is baffling, considering the "Baratheon: Black of Hair" issue from season 1. Not sure what the creators were thinking there. Everything else was perfect. Jaime and Robb's scenes were superb. Absolutely golden. The highlights of the episode. Arya's closeup shots were likewise wonderful. When Robb mentioned the Freys as part of his plan.A small squeaky "no!" issued from my mouth. My friends watching with me who haven't read the books, turned and looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head. My heart sank at Robb's plan. I can feel the pain of RW already. I think if the build-up of Robb as a General with a plan continues the way it was begun tonight, then RW in ep9 will break the internet.

I want to give this episode a 10, but the Jon and Ygritte scenes (in and out of the cave) were flawed. So it gets a 9. Ignoring the placid North scenes, this is the first episode that I've wanted to re-watch since Baelor. It was brilliant (everywhere but the north). I absolutely loved it. Sincere congrats to Cogman! On the cast front, yet again, kudos to Nikolaj Coster-Waldau for a heart wrenching performance. That bath cost him, and we can tell. He's exceeded by every expectation. Richard Madden delivered nuance this ep rarely seen in Robb since season 1, he's back on form thanks in no small part to some very well structured scenes and great lines. He was quite wonderful. Maisie Williams, showed a vulnerability to Arya, that her character in the books often lacked. Her scenes were so emotional and her lines beautifully delivered. Reaaaally wish I could have given this episode a 10, but those North scenes, were laughable. ETA: I loved the Loras scene, it's far more realistic behaviour than book Loras, imo. I also loved the way LF got the information, it was so Littlefingerish of him. :) One nitpick: Shireen is blond!!! So much for Baratheon black of hair! Doesn't Ned look foolish now. Sometimes, I just don't get the things this show does.

I doubt it. I think Sansa's wedding will take priority for Tywin and delay PW till next season. But we'll see.

No. They have to have her wait in meereen for Tyrion to arrive, and I don;t see them cutting Tyrion's (the ultimate fan & critic favourite) most pivotal sequences just to bring Dany back early. ETA: A lot of AFFC/ADWD will be truncated, and that will speed up her return to Westeros, one hopes, but no more drastic a change to her arc than that, I don't think.

That hesitancy, trepidation, and fear should have been messaged to the audience in Dany's acting at the beginning of the scene. Her face and eyes should have shown her inner struggle. Unfortunately, Emilia is not a good enough actress to pull it off, though she did try, most markedly in the shot of her opening the dragon box.

I'm here to sing the praises of the Jaime/Brienne scenes. They were glorious. The highlight of a stellar episode. Great chemistry between those 2, and NCW does a truly broken Jaime justice His suicide by assholes attempt when he grabbed the sword, gave me chills. Simply wonderful. Emilia Clark still can't act her way onto a horse, but the scoring of her scenes did for me what she could not do. Ramin Djawadi elevated that sequence to no end. Theon made me teary when talked about ned as his real father, and I never ever feel sorry for Theon, but today that one sentence managed it. A wonderful episode, truly. ETA: Oh, and Iwan Rheon, chewing scenery with the best of them. He needs to tap it down a bit on the evil eyes. Ramsay, I would hope, is a bit more subtle in his sadistic glee.

I give it a 9. Best episode since Baelor in season 1. I have no complaints.

Gave it a 7. On the whole a good enough episode, nothing to write home about either way. The hand amputation scene didn't measure up, imo, but then again my non-readers were genuinely shocked by it, so... :dunno: Visually, not as beautiful as we've come to expect from GOT, but the Theon chase scene was well done. Well paced, well blocked, and well edited. David Benioff gets kudos for the best action scene in the season so far. Best scenes: Catelyn at the window talking about Bran and Rickon. I wept with her and for her. She's a wonderful actress, but in that scene she was nothing short of brilliant. She better win an Emmy this season. The chairs. Such a lovely scene and not a word is uttered. Meh scenes: True, the whores were pointless, but they the scene did give us a laugh or two, mainly thanks to Dinklage. Dany in Essos. Emilia is so bloody wooden, her face and voice so exp<b></b>ressionless that I can't watch her without yawning. I can not connect to her at all. Worst: Ending credits music: my reaction to it was WTF, and mute. ETA: I might have to add Sir Barristan to my list of worst actors on the show.

But since GRRM wrote the scene - a fact confirmed by Bryan Cogman on WiC - we can't really complain too much about it, can we. :)

I doubt it. It's more likely exposition giving the viewers the background info for Catelyn's resurrection.

That was my favourite scene in the episode. I thought it was very well acted & executed. And that line from Karstark - "You lost this war the day you married that woman" - along with the cut to Talisa sitting uncomfortably on the horse absent a reply from Robb, really delivered a punch, and implied, to me at least, that deep down Robb knows that Karstark is right, and that we should know it too.

That's so true! It didn't dawn on me that she wasn't in this ep until you posted it. I did not miss her AT ALL.

Yes, I was a bit flummoxed by the show not confirming the death. Not sure why they left it open. Robb and Catelyn's arcs are such a mess. Sigh

I agree with the smooth transition. As I mentioned in my post above, I think it's the stand out feature of this ep, and the main reason why I liked it.

Finally watched it. Was pleasantly surprised in that I liked it. I gave it a 7, higher by 1 than the premiere. No particularly memorable scenes in this ep, I did however like the Robb's scene with Karstark as they stood by the side of road watching their army march. I thought it was well acted, well executed, and the final Karstark line "I think you lost this war the day you married that woman" [cut to Talysa uncomfortable on horseback] was very well timed and delivered a hefty punch, as well as foreshadowing. One thing that stands out about this ep however, and I believe in large part the reason why I liked it, is the smoothness of the transitions from storyline to storyline. They were so seamless, for the first time for some time on this show the transitions felt unobtrusive and completely natural. Catelyn's monologue; Well acted, and moving, in fact my eyes teared up watching the scene, but still... I can not help but resent the continued mutilation of her character. I can go no further without bidding welcome to the new GOT member, Ramsay! I was happy to see him. Now, to what I didn't like: The fight scene between Brienne and Jaime was dire. Further proof that this director really can't do action scenes. The Cersie/Joff scene was awfully hammy. The Margery/Joff scene again very hammy. Joff's portrayal in this ep verged on scenery chewing. Didn't like the white pupils on the warg, I don't feel there's a need for such an obvious visual device. But this show was never known for its subtlety. So, as a whole a very nice, if somewhat forgettable episode. Still better than the premiere, though.

Haven't watched the ep yet - it airs in a few hours - and based on the reactions here, I'm not sure I want to. :/

6/10 The episode felt flat. ETA: Highlight of the ep was Tyrion/Tywin scene. Tyrion's face made my heart ache.