AegonSnow

The Shae scene was easily the worst of the episode.

Varys would never offer Shae a small fortune to leave. If Varys wants somebody out of the picture, he has them killed. Definitely a wasted 5 minutes and another forced attempt at this pathetic romantic plot with Tyrion.

Actually I actually thought it fit well with Varys character.

Shae is not highborn. But he wants her out of the way.

Tyrion can dispell the chaos that Varys is creating. Shae can help him do that.

This might be what latter leads to her death.

She should have taken the offer.

The Killing of Rhaegar's family and the "hidden away" heir, Aegon

reminds me of the Romanovs and Anastasia just a bit

OMG SAM THE SLAYER!

I thought they were going to skip it.. but no!

Aren't the Sellswords the group with Tyrion and Ser Jorah?

The most interesting part is > the dragon must have three heads< Head is synonymous with having power,and being in charge,and in this case being the king/queen : having/wearing the crown,so this could mean that the future ruler will rule within three entities,let's say in Dany's case as khaleesi,Queen of Meereen and Westeros (the last by conquest). And it could very well be that three heads are not three riders,and that these notions don't overlap but stand as separate ideas that don't exclude each other. Dragons need riders,but the prophecy dragon represents a Targaryen,not literate dragon.

Would love to see if you can find any of this useful or engaging,since I loved the Citadel,and theories I found there.

I thought the 3 head was possibly talking about a 3-branch type of Government.

John of Gaunt whom the House of Lanncaster derived from was a man who made his way rather similar to Tywin. Also (not sure if it was mentioned), but Castle Rock is a nod to Stephen Kings town used in about 8-9 of his books and stories. These include Needful Things in which Leland Gaunt opens a shop to provide things to townsfolk in exchange for favors. Gaunt was suppossedly a demon who tricked people into selling their souls. Similar to Lan the Clever tricking the Kings of the Rock out of Casterly Rock.

Richard III - Tyrion metaphors?

Now is the WINTER of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

"The speech reveals Richard's envy and ambition, as his brother rules the country successfully. Richard is an ugly hunchback who is "rudely stamp'd", "deformed, unfinish'd", and cannot "strut before a wanton ambling nymph." He responds to the anguish of his condition with an outcast's credo: "I am determined to prove a villain / And hate the idle pleasures of these days." "

Richard next ingratiates himself with "the Lady Anne" – Anne Neville, widow of the Lancastrian Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales. Richard confides to the audience:

"I'll marry

Warwick

's youngest daughter.

What, though I kill'd her husband and her father?"

Sansa? The Lannisters also killed both her father and brother as well, and forced her to marry Tyrion.

"Assisted by his cousin Buckingham, Richard mounts a campaign to present himself as the true heir to the throne, pretending to be a modest, devout man with no pretensions to greatness. Lord Hastings, who objects to Richard's accession, is arrested and executed on a trumped-up charge of treason. Together, Richard and Buckingham spread the rumour that Edward's two sons are illegitimate, and therefore have no rightful claim to the throne; they are assisted by Catesby, Ratcliffe, and Lovell. The other lords are cajoled into accepting Richard as king, in spite of the continued survival of his nephews (the Princes in the Tower).

Cersei's children are illegitimate.

Richard asks Buckingham to secure the death of the princes, but Buckingham hesitates. Richard then recruits James TYRRELL, who kills both children.

HOLY HANDGRENADES! a Tyrell.

I think you're completely right on Shae. Good call.

As for Loras, while I'm sure Olenna did probably agree there, I'd imagine Loras will flat out refuse, and become Kingsguard

Or maybe Twyin will die, and Cersei will flat out refuse Loras. leaving his only option to join the KG...

At best: Brienne recaptures Jaime. Cat doesn't kill him, but he did agree to give back her daughters.

This is where he broke his oath. So now he's prisoner again at best. Dead at worst.