Woman of War

Ellaria's speech was one of the most memorable moments in the books, a humanistic statement where Martin transferred himself to us readers. Her word were on one level with Septon Meribalds most touching history,something setting the tone for the books within all that grislyness. And that is why I am so sad that Ellaria has been transformed into that person thisting for revenge. It is a fundamental change that hurts. I just love the actress, Indira Varma is so charismatic and beautiful, just magnetic. And I absolutely want to see more of her. You may be right that by that change of her personality the odds are higher that she will have more story impact.And yet: Ellaria was one of my favorite characters in the books and I will miss her. I do not care if Arianne has been left out but I would want the real ;) Ellaria! Maybe the show will establish a turnaround of her approach after some bitter experiences with vengeance (didn't she have that already?!) and we may still get her speech.

Welcome Morgainelesad and I liked your post very much.

The voice of reason

I only watched the episode an hour ago and so I'm a bit late to the party. Originally I thought I might not like that episode too much since so many of my faves are not in it but I was wrong. And now, reading this thread I do not understand anything anymore! This episode was closer to the books than most other episodes and now people complain about that! This episode had a wonderful inner beauty with the quiet foreshadowing of death, the dread, the emotional intensity. i loved the emphasis on Sam, one of my favorite characters, I enjoyed the portrayal of Jon, who gets better and better. And while I am not one about heroic pathos, I loved that gem with the defenders of the gate, their straightforward pride and determination. First of all here but during the whole episode the show honored the Nightwatch. Before this institution had somehow been presented as run down pile of shacks inhabited by a group of lowlifes and peasants. But here they were people with a cause, average guys and a girl who grow above themselves and who show what people can achieve when they know what they want to. Without heroic pathos. Why should I care more about Stannis than about these guys? They deserve their story in full episode length. And that from me who is more into politics and human drama than fight scenes. Not this time.

Great analysis

How do I write a text in bold with an Ipad? [bold] is it bolded? [/bold] Shift, didn't work ;)

He betrayed Jorah, so that Dany had one experienced knight less to advise her.

I guess you did not properly understand what you read or saw.

Yes, he should have left Sansa to her fate and looked the other way when she got beaten, so inconsiderate of him.

Because she is Sansa and not Arya?I'd certainly like Sansa to become more active but there are different ways of being active and I guess this would not be her approach. Apart from that putting a character in that kind of ambiguous situation, letting said character simmer for a while and flirt with going over to the dark side simply makes a good story. I am not really sure if Baelish wants to kill Robin right now but I think it may happen by accident and Baelish may make use of it, morally handcuffing Sansa, or making Sansa his tool may at some point be more important than Little Lord Arryn alive.And indeed, so far Sasa has little reason to distrust LF, she simply does not know what he did to her family. By now he is her, albeit somewhat sinister, benefactor, the man who saved her not only from a murder accusation but also from her mean aunt. Coming back to the Arya comparison: Sansa could make use of her abilities and spy on Baelish, question people, read his letters....... whatever clever investigation could be done - if Martin wants her to become clever so soon.

But Sansa knows! She believes to have had a part in murdering Joffrey, she will believe that everyone knows and that makes her emotionally dependent of Baelish. She has to thank him now for giving her shelter and she has to believe that she will never be free of that murder accusation. If now Baelish might make her believe that she has a part in Robin's death then he absolutely has her in his pockets emotionally. And physically because she'd have nowhere to go. As Sansa she poisoned the king, as Alayne she believes herself to have killed the boy. Catch 22, LF's perfect tool.

You are right, Newstar, with your answer.Would Shae have listened if once again Tyrion had talked about the danger? And the way Tyrion did this it would have been easier for her to forget faithless Tyrion in the future, not the concerned lover sacrificing his happiness for her safety but the arrogant nobleman sending his whore away. I guess once again Tyrion was thinking around one corner too much with his attempt at being evil. And now we will see an Othello-like tragical misunderstanding when Shae dies, making Tyrion maybe darker than in the books because he won't listen when he should have?? I tremendously enjoyed Margaery! You could see everything, everything in her face, disgust, false laughter, attempt at distraction and worry. That so very clever young woman! Dorner was extraordinary, just like Diana Rigg! And I really loved Turner. I have not been a fan of Sansa so far but Turner's acting in the two first episodes has impressed me and starts to win me over for Sansa. She has a brain, she is furious, she makes her standpoint clear, is full of pity and now her play shows that she has a clear understanding of the subtleties and power games that are going on. "And now we have a new Queen", her voice got so wonderfully cynical. Her face showed every memory of her father's beheading at the dwarf jousting and shame about Tyrion's treatment. And the solidarity she showed to Tyrion when she passed the goblet, two victims of Joffrey and yet proud, full of understanding for each other, great acting.

I wonder what Emilia Clarke and Peter Dinklage will be in Ripper Street. Any suggestions? Maybe a Chinese paper dragon together......and Jerome Flynn will knock them out..... And I enjoyed Thoros of Myr in Lillyhammer.

:agree: And I admit that all those people writing that the saddest moment was the death of Grey Wind - sorry but he is an animal, just or nearly just like the pigs and lambs they had for dinner and who cried for those! No, Talisa getting stabbed into her pregnant belly and first of all the INCREDIBLE scenes with Fairley's Cat, that hit me. And I think that Arya was so shocked By Grey Wind being killed because she knew what this meant for Robb.

Natalie Dorner and Diana Rigg are worth it!

Maybe it's Sophie Turner's looks that adds to my doubts. She simply looks like an adult young woman with shoulders that would make her the perfect athlete. (not demeaning, I have been a track and field athlete myself, only not really Sansa imo, she should be more the Venetian Renaissance beauty)

I think at least one year got lost in oblivion by Sansa telling she was fourteen. She started at Winterfell at the age of thirteen. Only a few months between the party at Wnterfell and the wedding?? Tyrion travelling to the Wall and being taken to the Eyrie in the speed of light? All that war, Blackwater, Robb's an Catelyn's trip to Riverrun, Dany's baby must have taken nine months at the first season before the dragons even hatched - and now they are quite big. The timing is wrong! No, I think they made a huge mistake, they aged up all kids, they should not have forgotten Sansa. She looks as if they could have taken an eighteen year old actress from the beginning for her role. Why did they bother with a minor if Sophie Turner looked like eighteen from the first season on? They could easily have found an eighteen year old who looks like fourteen and plays a thirteen year old. What do you think? I would like to know what the HBO, not the book character ages might be.

For the atmosphere we need some Turner: http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/turner/i/slave-ship.jpg And for the light there is Aivazovski: http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/aivazovskiy/big/aivazovskiy_chesmenskiy_battle_1848.jpg