[Book Spoilers] EP303 Discussion

[Lord of Cheese]

They missed a huge opportunity to make Jamie's hand being cut off even better.

They made Jamie look like he is only a good swordsman due to false stories in the last episode and then reinforced it in this one. Now ppl just wont get how big a deal that scene was for Jamie and his character development later on.

Such a shame to bugger up such a big thing when it was so simple a thing to get right.

The Bear and the maiden Fair was poor imho. Not appropriate and poorly sung too! Wrong style.

Edited April 15, 2013 by Lord of Cheese

[Mistress of Lemon Cakes]

Loved the episode.

I'm really curious to see how non-book readers react to Dany saying she'll give away a dragon for all the unsullied. I remember the first time reading the books and getting soooooo mad at her. And then of course she burns the city to the ground and it is my favorite chapter in the entire series (can't wait for next week. ;x )

The streaming version I watched of the episode had the rock version of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" kick in right as the knife is at Jaime's eye, so it was really jarring and not in a good way for me. I'm guessing this is not how the episode actually aired?

They're doing a really good job in completely misrepresenting Ramsay's character. I can't wait for the big reveal when it finally comes.

The only thing I did not like was the Stannis scene. I had been giving him the benefit of the doubt in the first episode this season, but the change is just ... weird. I would have been fine if they just ended the scene with Mel telling him another shadow baby would kill him. Didn't think we needed the next Stannis line after that.

All in all a solid episode. I can't wait for the next. :D

[PhoenixFlame]

Awesome moments:

- Varys sticking his tongue in his cheek (Tyrion sorta snickers) / musical chairs

- The Hound bopping his head / Gendry clapping Hot Pie's shoulder / that sweet direwolf pastry...he was totally getting a tiny crush

- BEAR AND MAIDEN FAIR!!!

- I know some people didn't like Stannis/Mel scene, but one thing I liked was him pressing his cheek to her head. Much better than kissing.

- "You little BASTARD" = I melted in squees. Oh, and Theon had a gorgeous horse. I was scared they were going to cripple it.

- Robb acting like a king and not a child. Fuck yeah.

- Pod saying "um...things."

- Lord Twat-beard XD

- Brienne taunting Jaime in her own way. Later, her expressions watching Locke and Jaime--she was looking half miffed, half scared. I think she could sense some bad shit was going down.

- JAIME. Poor dear heart. He did a great job with that split-second "wtf?" then the pain hitting home. Glokta described this a lot in Abercrombie's books.

Random note. ARGH, total dissonance for me! I knoooow the "Boy" is actually an evil little psycho, but when he walks out with his bow, HOT DAMN Iwan! :drool: :drool: :drool: Please give him something evil to do so I'm not crushing! Oh, I will say this too -- it was really cool to see his change from when he let Theon go (subservient, servanty) to when he appeared in the forest (much more self-assured. He did look sinister up to "come my lord"). I really like the idea that he tricks Theon into making the keep surrender. Talk about an "oh fuck!" moment for Theon!

Edited April 15, 2013 by PhoenixFlame

[MegaMagick]

What the ever loving hell did this show do to Stannis? They transformed him into somebody's sleazy, drunken uncle.

"You leavin' me!?" "Why you gotta go, where you goin' to!?" "Gimme some lovin', please come on baby i need another son!"

[Hellfell]

The ending was priceless.

[BericDondarrion]

Locke = the man.

"Catelyn Stark is a treasonous cunt" Loved that line. Couldn't stand how Brienne said it with her arrogance thinking that Catelyns word was more important then Robb's.

And then he cuts off Jaimes hand after menacing him! Locke should be the hand of the king in the north. He seems to be very loyal to Robb.

[Pinkie Baelish]

Wait, did Pod have sex with them or not? I thought he was too shy to do it, and just lied about it to Tyrion and Bronn.

[Pinkie Baelish]

What the ever loving hell did this show do to Stannis? They transformed him into somebody's sleazy, drunken uncle.

"You leavin' me!?" "Why you gotta go, where you goin' to!?" "Gimme some lovin', please come on baby i need another son!"

Yeah, when the fuck did Stannis turn into Theon?

[Jon Icefyre]

Wow that episode was remarkably boring up until the Theon chase followed by Jamie getting his hand chopped off at the very end, now that shit was fucking epic! It was nice to see that they are indeed finally adding the Rhaegar element in this season now that Ser Barristan is back in the mix though. Oh and of course I almost forgot to mention..... as pointless as it was the extraordinarily flexible whore was still most certainly a sight for sore eyes. :drool:

Edited April 15, 2013 by Jon Icefyre

[Asha—Not Yara!]

I thought Pod had sex, but the whores refused to take the money as a thank you to Tyrion for getting Ros released after the queen imprisioned her, but maybe Pod did chicken out.

[barneyfife]

loved this episode really good stuff.

i havent seen it brought up in this thread unless i missed it.

but if there shipping LF off to the erie than would not the pw have to happen this season or am i missing something?

he cant leave to go there with out taking sansa with him right?

idk i thought the pw was next season but if not than thats great to me. i may have some small grapes about the episode as others have mentioned.

but the LF leaving thing was the only thing that confused me not a complaint more confused?

[Nezzer]

Yeah, when the fuck did Stannis turn into Theon?

At first I was really pissed at Stannis's beach scene, but then, after rewatching it, I actually thought it was not out of character for him. Then I found this text on Tumblr and now I actually like the scene:

to me, stannis and melisandre’s relationship is such a delicate and carefully constructed balance of consumption vs preservation, and this scene expressed exactly that. you think stannis is not a hungry man, that he isn’t needy and desperate? he has been starving his entire life. and this woman appears to him, promising him life & kingship & glory — promising him

godliness

— you think this is easy to turn away from? no. he wants her. he does want her; he wants to fucking

consume

her. take that as you will. take it sexually, take it metaphorically. (the show can only do so much but i for one love that they’re taking this route — the literal act — his body mirroring her body from their sex scene in season two). because she is the sanctified god creator standing in front of him telling him, “you are not just king, no,

you are the son of fire”

.

this man who has never been anything before, not really. who has been out-shined and looked over his entire life. the son of fire. a god. and she can give it to him. so fuck yes, he wants her. he wants her any way he can get her.

and she, on the other hand — it is her sworn duty to protect him. remember what she tells davos? “i am a knight of sorts myself.” she is a warrior and a champion. she is

his

warrior and champion, and that means putting his wellbeing above all other things, it means perserving his body because he is the vessel in which her god survives. she holds his face in her hands but she will not give in, because she knows what is best for him. she is still holding him together. in every aspect of their relationship, she is still holding him together. whether he knows it or not.

[Turin Turambar]

I think I'm the only person who didn't enjoy the Pod stuff...I like Pod, but it felt like a waste of time. If it was funny I'd probably like it, but I didn't find it very funny. *shrug* guess it's just me. Pretty good episode....I think the writing was much better than the previous two actually. Nikolaj is such a good actor.

You're not. I found that scene useless and too long. Instead of adding something relevant to the plot, they simply throw in an almost random & gratuitous nudity.

[Stannis the Wight]

So Karstark is going to kill those two Lannister children next week. Book it.

Edited April 15, 2013 by Head of The Ned

[Pinkie Baelish]

At first I was really pissed at Stannis's beach scene, but then, after rewatching it, I actually thought it was not out of character for him. Then I found this text on Tumblr and now I actually like the scene:

Thanks, that softened up my views on the scene. I noticed that even last season, the show was making Stannis similar to Macbeth(something which I actually liked) in his desire for the throne, and when you look at it that way, his behaviour does seem to fit in with this portrayal. But still, I like my Stannis unsmiling and rigid, not clingy and horny.

[teemo]

You're not. I found that scene useless and too long. Instead of adding something relevant to the plot, they simply throw in an almost random & gratuitous nudity.

I actually thought they were going somewhere with it when the whores didn't take Pod's money, but then it was a joke that I didn't really find funny...I would have preferred a longer Arya scene. Or even a little Bran. Those types of scenes are why some critics just can't take the show seriously, and it's hard to blame them with scenes like that with no point and aren't even from the books..

[Crazeejezza]

One thing I didn't understand, that little Talisa scene with the Lannister hostages...are they truthfully setting her up as a spy?

It was more to do with showing how young the Lannister boys are before Lord Karstark kills them to try get the viewers to agree with Robb's decision.

[Bran's Legs]

Questions from Episode 3 I need clearing up?

1. Since when do the White Walkers arrange the dead in the shape of universes? I don't remember this from the books.

2. Why is Tormond going over the wall? Wasn't it someone else in the book? Can't remember. Does this mean Tormond is going to die?! I hope not. He hasn't even talked about his "biological advantages" yet.

3. What the eff is Ghost doing?

4. When is Samwell going to kill the wight?

5. Where are they making Stannis out to be a bitch?

6. Ramsay told Theon: "Winter is coming." WTF?

7. Locke seems like a good character for the show and all, but why replace the Bloody Mummers. Was really looking forward to seeing the leader of those dudes on screen. Would have made a great character. Maybe they couldn't find an actor good enough to pull off that role?

8. Why so much hate for the song at the end? Thought it was both great and equally as shocking as Jaime parting ways with his sword hand.

9. Lastly, who gives a rip if stuff in the show deviates from the book? I like the changes. It's not supposed to be exactly like the book. If it was, it would be difficult to watch. The Pod stuff was great. It showed Tyrion and Bronn are just dudes who want to know details of this Pod's great sex-capade. Now, I would't put it past Tyrion to have the whole thing set up that way to make Pod feel good about himself. You know, come out of his shell a little bit.

Edited April 15, 2013 by Bran's Legs

[Pinkie Baelish]

Just submitted Jaime's "I'M A MONSTER!!!!! AAAAARRRGHHHH" moment to Arrested Westeros.com. You all have no idea how long I've been waiting to bust that one out.

[Turin Turambar]

I actually thought they were going somewhere with it when the whores didn't take Pod's money, but then it was a joke that I didn't really find funny...I would have preferred a longer Arya scene. Or even a little Bran. Those types of scenes are why some critics just can't take the show seriously, and it's hard to blame them with scenes like that with no point and aren't even from the books..

I agree, but maybe HBO is trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator (which probably enjoys a grain of soft porn once in a while)