Mithras

The sandsnakes scene was bad. Everyone agrees. Enough said about it.

Well, they were not good in the books either. They looked more like Fox Force Five than George's usual characters in the books. The show is more faithful to the book!Sandsnakes than people think.

How do you think LF will explain the presence of Sansa in Winterfell to the Vale Lords?

More lies. Perhaps he will claim that Sansa was kidnapped by Brienne and taken to Winterfell.

That's the first time I've seen someone complain because the KM does hit and beat her in the books on different occasions.

Yes. Arya was never beaten for her misbehaving because she realized that the FM raise their hands only for killing. When the KM beat her while she was blind, it was meant to improve her senses. One can argue that Jaqen's beating upon her lies can be more or less the same thing but it looked more like Arya was being punished, not trained.

The one issue I do have with the current TV version is why Loras hasn't demanded Trial by Combat, he is one of the best fighters in the Kingdom.

The trial didnot start yet. After the meeting, the HS said that he has enough evidences to start a trial. Loras should demand trial by combat as soon as the trial starts. Or we will have another plot hole.

What is the size of the cock market?

The title was "ironic" nothing more than that. Everyone is bowed, bent and broken at the end of this episode pretty much. Tyrion and Jorah captured by Slavers; Jaime, Bronn and the Sandsnakes arrested; Same for Margaery and Loras.

Tyrion and Jorah were far from broken. Jaime also has nothing to fear.

At the final scene of the Episode, it appears that Sansa is Bowed, Bent, Broken. But the title of the Episode is Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. Was Sansa showing false suffering at the scene? Because she must have understood that her suffering is what Ramsay the Psycho wants from Myranda's words and since she now knows what Ramsay wants, she will find a way to move him (like manipulating him into killing Walda, maybe even Roose too) and she might be still Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken in the inside.

Loras should demand trial by combat immediately. Even the show!Loras is built up to be a good fighter. He should not have much trouble in slaying Olyvar in a duel.

I am sorry but this is absolutely ridiculous to compare two scenes. There is some sexual tension between them in the books but it is very very far from what was shown in the show. From what you quoted from the books Jon can't even know that it is she who want to have sex with him or is she suggesting to him to have sex in general. In the books she is very subtle with her allusions and she never openly offers herself to him.

Subtlety does not work in the show.

When do she want to have sex with him in the books? When do she sits naked in his lap in the books?

Barry and Aemon die in the next episode.

BTW, anyone else thinks that Jon will tell Stannis to have a detour at the mountain clans to recruit them and free Deepwood Motte? In that, he will also tell Stannis to leave Mel behind just like in the books.

Do we know anything about how former slave prostitutes are living after they were freed?

Shireen was afflicted with greyscale by the doll pressed on her face.

Craster Jr. was Otherized by a cold finger pressed on his face.

Coincidence?

I don't think so.

Show-Sansa might be convinced to believe that Stannis slew Renly with sorcery as Brienne claimed. Theon OTOH will have little reason to get caught by Stannis. So, perhaps they might try to flee to Braavos. Or they might try to reach Wall and be require guest right from Jon (but in that case, they will surely find the Wall in turmoil after Jon's assassination which might still lead to an escape to Braavos).

Davos will be our next POV at Winterfell as the regent of Rickon after the Boltons are wiped out. No room for Sansa. And as Jon suspected, giants will camp in the ruins of Winterfell, although they will be friendly to Rickon.

Mance gave her a fond smile. “It’s a wise woman I’ve found. A true queen.” He turned back to Jon. “Go back and tell them to open their gate and let us pass. If they do, I will give them the horn, and the Wall will stand until the end of days.”

Open the gate and let them pass. Easy to say, but what must follow? Giants camping in the ruins of Winterfell? Cannibals in the wolfswood, chariots sweeping across the barrowlands, free folk stealing the daughters of shipwrights and silversmiths from White Harbor and fishwives off the Stony Shore?

Note that we already had the cannibals in the wolfswood but they were at Stannis army.

The giants will also be used in repairing Winterfell just as Brandon the Builder used them in raising Winterfell.

But I doubt the show would have Sansa go to Winterfell then leave for the South again.

I would not expect much consistency from the show especially in regards to Sansa. Because when you think about it, for D&D, it looks like Sansa's original story is inferior to that of Jeyne Poole, who is in fact a side character in Jon's story.

In George's original draft, Arya and Cat were supposed to come to the Wall and prove difficulty for Jon about his vows. In the story published, Jeyne Poole as fArya did that.

Whether people like it or not, the hints based on the show knowing towards the end game and book foreshadowing that she will go back North eventually have her moving in that direction. Greywater would be a safe -stepping stone in that direction. Besides, the hour is getting late, story wise and it is about time Howland Reed made an appearance.

Let us talk again If she still stays in the North after this season ;)

For the record, I'm not sold on it. Just something to discuss.

The High Sparrow in the books is an amoral power player. He takes pleasure from whipping himself for his sins. The only person who did a similar thing was Septon Utt, who was a Bloody Mummer, who asked to be whipped after raping and killing boys.

So, no. I see no reason to take this person as Howland.

Guess that would fit in with aging up all the characters then right?

Aging the characters up =/= pushing a character a generation back compared to the others.

High Sparrow is Howland Reed?

Been discussed yet?

High Sparrow seems old enough to be Ned's father.

As for this episoe I've been struggling to come up with a suitable reason why LF would want to ally with The Boltons. All I can come up with is revenge, not just for Sansa but for himself. Roose slit the throat of the woman he loved. I think he still hoped that with Ned out of the way he could woo Catelyn. But Roose ended that desire.

It looks like the Boltons will not stand against Stannis in the show. So, LF must prevent Stannis taking the North because after the North, his next target will be the Vale. Stannis has no reason to ally with LF and many reasons to burn him alive. So, LF is giving the Boltons what they need to stand against Stannis. He is using the Boltons to get rid of Stannis. If they defeat Stannis, LF will no doubt find a way to ditch the Boltons too.

We didnot have "fetch me the block" but we still have the nod.

For the record;

There are seven gods at the Hall of the Black Pool.

1. Lion of Night sitting in a throne (easy to identify)

2. Next to him is the Black Goat of Qohor (even easier to identify - Hello Baphomet, long time no see)

3. At the other side of the Lion of Night, we have the Weeping Lady of Lys with water trickling down her eyes (the man who drank from the black pool died at her feet). Ellaria in the books worships this goddess.

4. The fiery heart of the Red God is also obvious.

5. The stone face is supposed to be a weirwood face.

6. The standing hooded figure who turned his/her back is the Stranger (note that it is supposed to be gender indeterminate)

7. And finally, the misshapen, grotesque thing at the other side of the Stranger is the Drowned God. This was the only surprise for me.

Pod = Abel, and Brienne could be the GOWF or spearwife, with the aid of at least older woman.

Sadly, Roose knows Brienne too damn well from Harrenhal. However, if Brienne poses as a man, it could work.

If there will be a Hooded Man in the show, my bet is on Davos.

Enough time for Ser Shadrich to have left and let RLers know Sansa is there so Brienne + Jaimie can go fetch her :)

I think Brienne champions Jaime in the trial by combat and saves his lame ass. Then, Jaime gets free but Brienne is stuck with UnCat until she remembers that Cat swore to let her go should Brienne asks to avenge Renly. So, Brienne will leave UnCat and head North to make that attempt.