I love Cersei

Exactly what I was thinking.

It was a pain to watch just how bad the story writing was this episode. Almost nothing made any sense, most of the characters seemed to behave too stupid and unrealistic to be believable. And have the writers of this show even heard of continuity? It seems like such a waste, there is well cast and talented actors, wonderful scenery, costumes, camera, music, everything ... there is everything but a story that makes any sense. Gave it a 3/10 because most of this episode was painful to watch. Nice to have Thoros and Dondarrion back though.

I'm more interested in the show again since last week. I gave this episode an 8 to honor that fact.

For now the best episode this season, gave it a 6. Sansa actress has been wonderful, she really stood out this episode. Also great chemistry with the Jon actor. Overall still unhappy with the show though ...

Statistics without elimination of outliers. Data from 06/19/2015 18:48. Episode 501 - The Wars to Come Number of votes: 592 Median: 7 Arithmetic mean: 6.853 Standard deviation: 1.898 Episode 502 - The House of Black and White Number of votes: 466 Median: 8 Arithmetic mean: 7.030 Standard deviation: 2.012 Episode 503 - High Sparrow Number of votes: 444 Median: 8 Arithmetic mean: 7.414 Standard deviation: 2.255 Episode 504 - The Sons of the Harpy Number of votes: 486 Median: 8 Arithmetic mean: 6.874 Standard deviation: 2.459 Episode 505 - Kill the Boy Number of votes: 549 Median: 8 Arithmetic mean: 7.164 Standard deviation: 2.326 Episode 506 - Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken Number of votes: 753 Median: 6 Arithmetic mean: 5.417 Standard deviation: 2.961 Episode 507 - The Gift Number of votes: 634 Median: 8 Arithmetic mean: 7.582 Standard deviation: 2.158 Episode 508 - Hardhome Number of votes: 958 Median: 10 Arithmetic mean: 9.048 Standard deviation: 1.751 Episode 509 - The Dance of Dragons Number of votes: 954 Median: 7 Arithmetic mean: 6.107 Standard deviation: 3.042 Episode 510 - Mother's Mercy Number of votes: 1071 Median: 7 Arithmetic mean: 6.108 Standard deviation: 3.258

Thanx for your comment. It's true that I much like a lot of the cast (e.g. Jerome Flynn), locations, costumes, castles, imagery, and so on. What disappointed me multiple times this season, is the show's storytelling. There's sudden changes in people's characters; there's people doing stuff that just doesn't make sense and there's other people not doing what every sane person would do; there's been missing attentions to detail that made the show universe pretty inconsistent. Many things seemed to happen more or less randomly this season, in a way that prevented me from bonding with any one character. You just don't know how that character will be like in the next scene, or the one after that.

Two stars for Lena Headey's performance alone this episode. And sorry, but that's it already, nothing else earns a star: 2/10. This is my worst rating this season. I feel it's justified since it sums up all the letdowns this season. There's been just so many logical errors during this season, so much happened that doesn't make any sense in the show universe. Please note that I don't compare books and show here. It was even hard to bring myself to watch the second half of this season.

Didn't like all of it, but all of it was better than episode 1. Therefore, I'm happy.

- Yayed to see Jaqen H'ghar back - Election of the Lord Commander: not a bit of build-up of tension, Jon was commander out of the blue ...

This was actually hard to watch at times. I can't stand Loras, neither Daarinew. Jon and Mance saved the day, I like their chemistry. We will get no Rattlemance though, too bad. Gave it a 6/10, just because it's Game of Thrones and I like many actors, sets. Camera was good, too. Even though I usually enjoy set up episodes, for this episode scripting alone would get a 1/10 rating from me.

Loved so much about this episode! Most of all: Sansa - wow! Exactly the way I wanted her to be in the books. I cheered for her when she looked in Petyr's eyes over the Vale lord's shoulder, and again when she walked down the steps - very much! Perfectly delivered by Sophie Turner. I really hope they won't go backwards with Sansa's development from here on in the show. Naked Missandei raises the score too; first the actress is very beautiful, and 2nd the chemistry between her and Grey Worm works well. The scene wasn't a waste of time; it adds to the story and its atmosphere, even if it isn't important - I know the important ongoings from the books anyhow. This I didn't know, and it doesn't destroy George R. R. Martin's telling or its goals because it doesn't interfere with either. The scene's addition is comparable to a lovingly built set, or the use of detailed costumes, in a way. A nice bonus on its own, but a lot of these "little things" combined can make the difference between a good show and a bad. Emilia Clarke's acting! when expelling Jorah - fantastic. Dany's eyes staring nowhere while Jorah tries to make (eye) contact. It really comes through how much she cares for him. The Beetle-Guy/Gregor parallel and the brothers Jaime and Tyrion laughing together for a short while before Tyrion delved deeper into (t)his story. Again, good acting there. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's skills for sure have grown with the GoT series. So much more. Arya's laughing when told about her aunt's death. Made me laugh out loud. Oberyn's behavior and artistic fighting style. So cool. Even the graphical display of his skull crushing - although in general I hate being made to watch brutality for brutality's sake on TV - worked very well and made the scene as strong as it was. 9/10

First reaction was a 9, almost forgot about the Ironborn business. So 8 it is. Meereen wasn't too convincing either but still ok. Varys, Oberyn, Tywin and Tyrion were all perfect, as was Davos. Overall, I find the series to be much more interesting again because of the last few episodes.

Yes, lots of little things like that ... still that doesn't ruin the fun for me. It's just TV. ;-)

Thank you for the statistics. Do we have anywhere an overview over all season/episode votes (vote count and average) for convenient comparison?

Beautiful episode, again nothing that really bothered me (much). Liked each scene and interaction. Especially Arya/Hound and the Eyrie. And I even don't know whether I like show Dany or book Dany more any longer. That is about the greatest compliment I can give to the show, since I love the books. The writers clearly have different ideas about some characters (Cersei a lot this episode), but I can't really expect them to see everything like I do. All in all, it was a very strong episode especially because it was good without interruption: 9/10. Not a 10 because there was no killer moment like in: big thing happened, or: really emotional thing happened. Kind of like an LP from which you like to listen to every song, you don't want to skip one, but no single one stands out either. Over the years, that are the albums I listen to most often.

Before reading the comments here it never ever crossed my mind that THE SCENE could be interpreted as anything else but consensual sex. It all seemed so natural a part of their game. Passion and hunger on both sides. I think both actor's did a great job in putting that across. Obviously, I think wrong. ;-)

It's hardly hard to say that this was the best episode for a long time. There was nothing really outstanding, no aha experience of any kind. So I won't give it a 10, but a well-earned 9 it is. I felt it was over so fast and I never got bored. Most of all, no single very bad scene was included. Usually, there's at least one of those. Dany speaking High Valyrian is sooo good! They could not possibly have found a better actor for that role than Emilia Clarke.

if this isn't a ten, I don't know what is.

Rated this 8/10 - Still in the books everything is a gazillion times better. No exaggeration. You just can't do them justice on TV, with budget and time constraints anyway. Now pluses and minuses: + This episode was moving. + Tension could be felt during the episode. + This episode didn't include a single scene that was really poor. + Most scenes didn't seem overly rushed this time. (Could have done without Dany this episode, to give her story more time/impact in the future, but still.) + Rains of Castamere song was well recognizable. + The silent credits were really powerful. + Loved Michelle Fairley's performance and portrayal of Catelyn. + Loved Tobias Menzies' performance (Edmure). + Loved David Bradley' performance and portrayal of Walder Frey. + Loved how Arya talked to Sandor. Good acting by Maisie Williams. - Why again Sandor did knock out Arya? Would have loved to see Sandor's fight scene and how he stops Arya from running into the castle. At least the scene could have ended when Arya hit the ground, to leave us a little cliff hanger. - No fight/resistance during the RW, just a tiny slaughter. No army/burning tents. No sense of the real measure (!) of the event. Oh well, budget I guess. The atmosphere still felt right, though. - The wildlings great battle-like run to the hut with the single old man seemed a little dumb. - Anticipated a great landscape shot of Queenscrown, including the walk there through the lake. I felt a little let down by what we got, but that may be personal - very minor nitpick. - Almost forgot about Sam and Gilly's easy stroll through the park. I liked their interaction, but still: what the hell happend since they fled the ravens? Pity we didn't got to see them where we left them the last time. - The queasy feeling that too much was left out doesn't go away.

Such a nice and clean Hound, with Arya in his lap like he was Old Nan. We need a lot of anger, and better make-up. Just dirty finger nails doesn't do it. --- Jorah. + Dany. Every scene. And her speaking Dothraki. +++ The Titan's Bastard. Genius. Pity that actor wasn't cast as Daario, or could at least live to die another day by Selmy's hand. Anyway, wonderful portrayal. +++ Daario - Not sure. Feels more of a bard than a leader of warriors. I seem to not like him, which may be a good sign given that I never liked him in the books. The way he popped up in Dany's tent just like that felt cheaply executed though. - Davos reading. + Gendry. Relax man, it's just leeches! His whole scene with Melisandre was boring and overdramatized. --- Liked Margaery smiling left and right during Cersei's little chat on the Reynes of Castamere. Those two would be such a nice sister pair, would love to see them mud-wrestling. + Awkward wedding feeling wasn't bad, even with Joff taking that footstool and Sansa kneeling. + Drunken Tyrion! Awesome! +++ Shae taking his pillow = Sansa's dress out under his head. Wonderful. + Portrayal of Sansa and Tyrion's behavior. Tyrion is such a nice guy. One could think Sansa is to fall in love with him right away. Don't. Like. It. --- Drunken Tyrion again just to add more plusses. +++ Joffrey Cocksure. Wonderful acting. I want him to stay king forever. +++ Gilly and Sam's chemistry, their talk, the raven setup. +++ The White Walker - always thought they look really cheap. The "fight scene" was lame, no sense of fear at all, and when the episode finished without the threat of more Walkers and Coldhands to the rescue, that was a major letdown (even if we should get him next episode). --- Overall I did like that many scenes weren't so rushed this episode. On the other hand, I didn't like to not see character's I wanted to see. So this seems to be neither plus nor minus. Ultimately though, no Theon was one of the best things this episode. + Bottom line: Last week's episode was weak, this week's was so even more. While watching I actually thought that I shouldn't waste my time with the series any more and just read the books again. I know the former will never happen though because I'm too curious, and because I like many of the TV characters.

Thank you for your answer! Well, I remember I thought she wasn't like book Shae when we first saw her on TV, but after that initial small frustration I quickly realized that I like TV Shae a lot more. Maybe you or other viewers mix up not liking TV Shae with the actual acting part? Myself I think the acting was especially fantastic this episode. I'm no movie expert, she just feels real - in a "she's like the girl next door" kind of way.

Can you explain, please?

Dany scene was truly amazing. Shae and Tyrion were amazing. Liked the scene with Tywin and Joffrey a lot, as well as Melisandre and Gendry, and few others. Overall though for me this was the most boring of all episodes of all seasons. As a matter of fact, this was the very first GoT episode that in parts bored me. After last weeks' fantastic cinema, 5/10 for this episode because only about half of it was good. Worst rating I ever gave. No yay! feel when Jaime decided to save Brienne. The bear scene was so not suspense-packed. No feel of danger at all. I loved all of that story in the book. P.S. Theon is more pointless than Ros ever was.

Some good, some bad this episode. Overall more good than bad, much because of the emotional ending. Chemistry between the Jon and Ygritte actors has improved. Imo they couldn't have found a more fitting actor for Ygritte. Sam's scene was well done as well. Liked the "faceless foreshadowing" between Melisandre and Arya. And I liked "replacing" Edric by Gendry - just because I like it that the show has some suprises in store for me as a book reader that makes me wonder how all is going to be resolved in the future. Theon's was the only awful scene. Not the actor's fault, just bad writing. I much more prefer to see nude tits in every show than overlong torture scenes in every show. Do it off screen.

Best of season 3 so far, no doubt about it. Margaery and Joffrey, Sansa and Margaery, Cersei and Tywin - awesome scenes, awesome actors. Lena Headey so very beautiful. And Sophie Turner's best performance ever! Great development in her acting skills since the first season, she was so convincing. She will be one of the big Hollywood stars of the future. Also the scene between Brienne and Jaime worked great, as well as Mormont's death and Dany's scene of course. Rates 9/10, thought long about giving it a 10. What about the sorcerer in the box - was that in the books? How could I have missed that? Well, even if it wasn't, it adds an interesting touch to Varys' character.