AnikaUnderfoot

So I don't think I mind the show getting off track, I actually kind of like that I don't know exactly whats going to happen next. Jon/Ygritte, while entertaining (I love her blue-ball quips!) is going in a direction I'm entirely not sure of. I'm just worried they might have Jon turncloack for real, not his storyline double-agent plot. Glad Sansa got some much needed (imo) screentime! Thought she played her panic perfectly. Glad to see Shae wasn't holding the knife to her throat (as I had thought from the preview from last week). I do like the Tywin/Arya scenes, although she is completely giving herself away, and Tywin knows it. Not sure how thats going to work out! I'm also unsure of the timing with Bran/Rickon and Catelyn/Jaime. She's already standing in his pen with a sword in her hand even though "Bran and Rickon's" death has just been revealed to us, and she doesn't even know it yet. I'm glad Dany is finally doing something, although I totally did not see Pyat Pree/Xaro plotting together. My laptop doesn't get that loud unfortunatly, was he declaring himself King? or something? Either way I quite like these scenes, its completely new stuff but in the end she's still going to end up at the House of the Undying so I'm just enjoying the ride along the way.

Its getting quite off track, imo. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

Fully agree with this. When I first saw that scene, with him giving his "I have done dishonorable things" speech, and then opening the door to the bloodbath in the courtyard, I thought it was totally him. I took it as a "This is what I have done to make you give me what I want" display, and that he purposely set it up as a display of his power and just how far he is willing to take it. It wasn't until Dany freaked and he yelled to "call the guards" or whatever that I realized that it wasn't his doing.

Also, I did like Arya demanding her next kill NOW. The look on Jaqen's face was like "is this girl serious?!". I loved their interactions.

You are completely right. That whole scene somehow manage to slip my mind when I was talking about everything else I liked. How about we change that to "No Ros!". My apologies.

Freaking. Loved it. Dad texted me earlier (we watch it together, but are seperated by a couple states during most of the year) and said "I don't remember the dragons being stolen" before I had watched the episode. So I went in to it knowing that would happen, but not why. Honestly, I loved the change. It gave Dany something to do, and really ramped up her plot line. Canon? No. Great TV? Absolutely. Loves: Bran. The whole 'taking of Winterfell" scene was fantastic. I loved his pointed question at Theon. Theon - so I hate the guy, but his acting was superb, and although it was awful to watch I thought his killing of Rodrik was really important to show just how inexperienced he is at this. Arya/Tywin - may not be canon, but I really love this whole development of Tywin. Dany being schooled by the Spice Merchant - priceless. The Mob - I thought it was great. Sure, there were supposed to be horses, but I forgot that in the moment of being scared shitless for Sansa. Glad they finally got the Hound in - "little bird!" Tyrion slapping Joffrey is always one for the money. Myrcella - thought her goodbye scene was great. Really struck home with Cersei's threat. Jon/Ygritte - wasn't sure where they were going with that, but I quite like the actress. Loved her shimmy up against him hahaha Didn't have a dislike really. Loved this whole episode.

If they did do it that way (just starting off the episode with Renly being dead), I wonder how the non-book audience would take it. On one hand, Stannis made it pretty clear that he was in it to win the war, and he obviously sent Davos and Mel to go do something for the war effort, but Im just curious how the non-book readers would make their connections between the shadow baby, Renly's death, and then being segued into Brienne being blamed for it.

When Lancel was getting ready to leave Tyrion's room, I kept expecting to see the tortured whore being "delivered" back to him. I wonder if we will get to see the aftermath of that in the next episode.

Oh, yep. Thanks!

AGREED> I was getting worried that I was about to see just how twisted HBO was going to make this.

I really liked this episode. Some parts more than others. Loved the new map with Harrenhal and Quarth. Loved Arya's prayer. I thought Sansa was brilliant. Especially with her "loyal to my one true love" line, even after being beaten. (Hated the whore scene. I get why they put it there, but that was hard to watch. We get it. He's a jerk.) Gotta say, I was relieved Tywin rode in when he did. I was seriously worried they were about to kill of Gendry. I also liked him talking to Arya. Thought Tyrion and Lancel was hilarious! Also, its been over a year or so since I've read the book (and they tend to run together for me), but what is the Peach that everyone keeps referring to as pertains to Renly? I can't seem to recall what that moment was, or its significance.