Episode 25: Kissed By Fire

“By what right does the wolf judge the lion?”

Major Plot Points: Jon performs the Lord’s Kiss.  Robb follows his father’s honor system.  Arya witnesses a resurrection.  Dany learns about slave names.  Sansa is a pawn in the great game.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Tormund had a more jovial personality.  He was almost constantly making lewd jokes and yelling “Har” after each one.  He also constantly talked about his member.  I enjoy both versions of the character.  The gritty one works well on television.
2. The cave Jon and Ygritte consummate their relationship in was described as having small tunnels run out the back of it.  Ygritte told Jon a story about how a wilding party once got lost deep underground trying to find a way under the Wall.
3. The Karstarks are ancestral relatives of the Starks, hence their name.  Their 2 houses have been united for hundreds of years. 
4. The song Shireen sings is actually a song her court jester, Patchface, constantly sings.  Patchface is not in the show, but is a terrifying presence in Davos POV chapters.  He was said to have nearly drowned once, and since coming back is completely insane and grim.  For some reason Shireen loves to have him around, and many people theorize that the crazy things he sings and tells people, are actually prophecies.  Melisandre even tells Jon Snow that she sees Patchface in her flames and considers him dangerous.
5. Barristan served on the small council. He was the one that tells Dany about how Jorah used to spy on her for Varys and King Robert.
6. Cersei was offered by Tywin to be wed to Willas Tyrell, heir to Highgarden, and the Tyrells refused. Loras wasn’t able to marry anyone in the books, since he was granted a spot on the Kingsguard after the Battle of the Blackwater.

Other Points to Notice

1. When Thoros prays before the trial by combat, the music playing in the background is the same theme that plays whenever Melisandre begins talking about or praying to, the Lord of Light.
2. Jon is lying badly about there being 1000 men left at Castle Black.  In reality, it’s less than 100.
3. We hear Beric talk about how every time he comes back, he loses a part of himself.  I don’t believe we ever hear Jon talk about this when he comes back.  It almost seems like the show purposely ignores the cons of being revived from death.
4. Littlefinger finds out about Sansa’s proposed marriage, and immediately uses this knowledge to get the Lannisters to marry her off to Tyrion.  He couldn’t allow her to go to Highgarden out of his clutches.

Stray Observations:

1. Do you think this is the first time Kit Harrington saw his future wife naked? It almost has to be right? That’s hilarious
2. Roose Bolton did a great job trolling Jaime. 
3. Maybe Dean-Charles Chapman got the part as Tommen because he did a great job dying?
4. The scene in the baths between Jaime and Brienne is among my all time favorite Game of Thrones scenes.  We learn a lot about who Jaime really is, his true reasons for killing the Mad King, and why it broke him so much to see Ned Stark viewing him with disgust.

RIP: Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold. Pretty badass last words.

Episode 26: The Climb

“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder”

Major Plot Points: Arya loses a friend to religion.  Theon gets tortured.  Jon goes for a climb.  Jaime overplays his “position”.  Sansa and Loras enjoy a romantic stroll.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. At this point, Sam and Gilly were being guided by Coldhands.  Coldhands then left Sam at the Wall and waited for Bran to arrive.  In the show, Coldhands was Benjen Stark and only appeared in Season 6.
2. Arya and the Brotherhood never meet Melisandre.  Her and Thoros immediately saw each other as priests of the Red God, which is why Thoros was so quick to trust her.
3. Gendry stayed with the Brotherhood when Arya left.  He is still with them. 
4. Robb’s plan was to retake the North, not Casterly Rock.  Robb was going to take back Moat Cailin from the Greyjoys.  Moat Cailin is a fortress guarding the road to the north, surrounded by swamp lands.  It had never been taken, but Robb never lost a battle.

Other Points to Notice

1. Melisandre learning from Thoros about Beric coming back to life was the main reason she believed Jon Snow could arise from the dead.
2. Mel also gives Arya an almost prophetic speech about all the lives she would take.  But the more interesting part is when she tells Arya, “We will meet again.”  This indicates in Season 7 these 2 will confront one another.  It should be a fun reunion.
3. How does Theon not realize he is at the Bolton home, the Dreadfort?  He served with Roose Bolton, and knew his sigil was the flayed man on a wooden X.  He is also hanging on a wooden X.
4. If Edmure refused the marriage proposal, and Robb lost his Frey alliance, he may have survived.
5. Littlefinger was able to tell Ros betrayed him, because only she knew of his plans to leave with Sansa. 

Stray Observations:

1. Sam is incredibly smooth. “Ah you know your fires!”
2. Ramsey finally brings out the horn he used to torture Theon behind the walls of Winterfell.
3. Roose Bolton almost certainly gave Jaime a dinner that required a fork and knife on purpose.  He was a sick dude.
4. Hilarious how non subtle Tyrion was about trying to get Shae to leave him and Sansa alone.

Episode 27: The Bear and the Maiden Fair

“You waste time trying to get people to love you, you’ll end up the world’s most popular dead man”

Major Plot Points: Sansa and Tyrion fret about their upcoming nuptials.  Jaime rescues a maiden.  Theon is tortured.  Arya is stolen by a dog.  Jon makes Ygritte swoon. Daenerys threatens an entire city.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Jeyne Westerling, Robb’s wife, was never pregnant.  Or even if she was, it was terminated.  She stayed at her castle, while Robb went to the Red Wedding.
2. Shae did not fight against Tyrion being married to Sansa.  It gives a bit more credence to the theory she was playing him the whole time.
3. Jaime tells Roose to inform Robb Stark “Jaime Lannister sends his regards”. This was changed to just be “The Lannisters”.  The reason for this change is lost on me

Other Points to Notice

1. Robb promises Talisa to go with her to Volantis.  Just another promise he breaks.
2. Sansa is still very poor at playing the game.  She can’t sense any of the manipulations from Margaery. 
3. Joffrey was correct when he told Tywin they were not worried enough about Daenerys and her dragons.  In his arrogance, Tywin never even considered to look into it.
4. We see Miranda often from here on out.  She seems to be a complete psychopath that weirdly loves Ramsey obsessively.
5. “Tralalalalallyday” is not a real place.
6. Ygritte clearly knows that Jon isn’t really a wildling deep down.

Stray Observations:

1. Orell is weirdly in love with Ygritte.  But he comes on far too strong. 
2. We finally get Arya and the Hound together.  Best duo in Westeros.
3. Jaime takes his first real step to redemption when he saves Brienne.

RIP: The next poor prisoner that Locke throws in the bear pit to satisfy his primal urges. 

Episode 28: Second Sons

“The usurper Robb Stark. The usurper Balon Greyjoy. The usurper Joffrey Baratheon”

Major Plot Points: Arya and the Hound head for the Twins.  Daenerys meets with mercenaries.  Tyrion and Sansa get hitched.  Sam meets an ancient evil.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Daario Naharis looked very different.  He had blue hair and a blue beard that was kept in 3 prongs.  He also was a captain in a different mercenary company, the Stormcrows, he did not serve with Mero, the Titan’s Bastard.
2. Mero was not killed by Daario.  He was killed by an angry mob after trying to attack Daenerys when she claimed Yunkai.
3. Melisandre does leech Edric Storm (Robert’s bastard that Stannis kept at Dragonstone), but doesn’t seduce him the way she seduces Gendry in the show.  Also her leech burning ritual is far more effective, since all of the kings mentioned die shortly after. 
4. Tyrion and Sansa never actually had sex, but he did get in bed with her. He backed out at the last second due to how wrong it felt.
5. Sam killed the White Walker while with Grenn and Pyp. No other brothers believed him and mockingly called him “Sam the Slayer”.  He also sorta accidentally fell on him. 

Other Points to Notice

1. The Wise Master from last episode, Razdal mo Eraz, takes back the city of Yunkai soon after Daenerys leaves.
2. Stannis shows his kind side when he visits Davos in the dungeons.  Stannis knows that Davos would disagree with killing Gendry, and him going to talk to him shows that Stannis wanted Davos to stop him from letting Melisandre murder the kid.
3. No coincidence Cersei tells Margaery (and the audience) the meaning behind the song “Rains of Castamere” this episode.  The Red Wedding takes place next episode, and of course the episode is named “The Rains of Castamere”.  Kind of a giveaway.
4. Samwell Tarly may be the first human to kill a White Walker in over 8000 years.  Unreal.

Stray Observations:

1. The Hound does not like Arya as much as Sansa.
2. Not only did the actors for Daario change, but the personalities did as well.  The original Daario is much more soft spoken, and less mercenary-ish than the new one.
3. Tywin giving Tyrion a lecture about his need to perform is objectively hilarious.  “I am the God of tits and wine.”

Daenerys Boob Counter: 1

Overall Count: 3.5

RIP: Mero, “The Titan’s Bastard” What a pleasant man.

Episode 29: The Rains of Castamere

“Mother”

Finally.  If Ned dying put this show on the map, it was this episode that forced the series into every household across the globe.  No episode of any TV show has come close to what the Red Wedding did to viewers at home.

Major Plot Points: Arya travels to meet her brother.  Jon goes on a raid.  Daenerys devises a plan.  Robb gets brutally murdered at his uncle’s wedding.  Catelyn watches her oldest son get brutally murdered at her brother’s wedding, and then is also brutally murdered at her brother’s wedding.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. More was revealed at Robb’s final council.  First, Robb is informed that Balon Greyjoy is dead. Robb then devises a brilliant plot to take back his home.  Finally, he writes a last will, and in it named Jon Snow as his successor.  This letter was sent to the swamps of the Neck, and the theory goes that Howland Reed came into possession of it, and is waiting for the right moment to present it to the remaining Northern lords.
2. Robb’s wife was not present at the wedding.  This was just pure cruelty by D & D.
3. It is theorized that Rickon and Osha went to the island of Skagos, where cannibals and unicorns roam free.
4. The entire wedding is seen through Cat’s POV.  There is a sense of dread building the entire time.  The first major scare is when she sees Roose Bolton is not drinking and wearing chainmail under his clothes. She also notices the band barely knows how to play their instruments. Then of course when the drums start to bang and the Rains of Castamere play, her dread comes to a climax.
5. Cat does not kill Walder’s wife.  She kills his mentally challenged son.  When she threatened to kill him, Walder Frey responds; “Then I’ll get a new son.” She also calls Robb her last son, since she believes Bran and Rickon to be dead. 
6. As Cat watches Robb die, she goes completely hysterical.  As the knife comes to her throat she scratches her face until it bleeds and begs them not to cut her hair, because Ned loves her long hair.
7. Roose Bolton says “Jaime Lannister sends his regards”.  This matters later since Catelyn comes back as Lady Stoneheart.  More on that later.

Other Points to Notice

1. When Walder gives bread and salt to Robb and his men, it signifies that they are under his protection.  It was one of the oldest traditions in the land. 
2. This is the first of two times that Bran and Jon get within arm’s reach of each other without actually interacting. 
3. When a warg dies, they inhabit one of their animals.  They slowly lose all that is left of their human consciousness.
4. When Daenerys asks Jorah about Daario, you can see the friendzone hit him in the face.
5. Robb saying “Perhaps I made a terrible mistake.” , and then talking about naming his son Eddard Stark is so cruel.  They really lay it on thick.
6. When the Rains of Castamere start playing, Catelyn has the same reaction as the audience.

Stray Observations:

1. Rickon had some pretty good acting when he left Bran.  This was also the last time he ever speaks on the show. 
2. This episode is still incredible.

RIP: Walder Frey’s wife.  Also King Robb Stark, the Young Wolf, Lord of Winterfell, King in the North, and firstborn son of Lord Eddard Stark.  Catelyn Stark, formerly Catelyn Tully, eldest daughter of Lord Hoster Tully.

Episode 30: Mhysa

“Monsters are dangerous, and just now Kings are dying like flies”

Major Plot Points: Arya sees the Young Wolf one more time. Tyrion questions his father.  Sansa learns about her brother.  Sam meets Bran at the Wall.  Jon returns home.  Daenerys gets carried by slaves.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Arya started going crazy when she saw her brother’s corpse.  As she was running she was hit in the head and it seemed like she was killed.  Obviously it was just the Hound, but it seemed for a bit that she also died at the Red Wedding.
2. Sam and Gilly arrive at the Nightfort and tell Bran that Coldhands led them there.  We also hear the story of the Night’s King.  A Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch who fell in love with a female White Walker.  He declared himself the King of the Nightfort, and ruled for 13 years committing countless atrocities.  The Night’s Watch, the Lord of Winterfell, and the King Beyond the Wall had to join together to stop him.  The show seems to borrow his name for the leader of the White Walkers.  The Night King instead of the Night’s King.
3. Balon Greyjoy was dead at this point.  Robb was dead, and Joffrey also died soon after.  This really bolstered Stannis’ faith in Melisandre. 
4. Ramsey would never sign anything as “Ramsey Snow” He refused to let anyone call him that, and not Ramsey Bolton. 
5. Jaime did not arrive back at King’s Landing until after Joffrey died.
6. Stannis was not as mad at Davos about freeing Edric.  He was much more reasonable, and agreed with Davos about heading North.

Other Points to Notice

1. Just as Tyrion seems to be getting Sansa to like him, Sansa learns about the Red Wedding and all hope for her not despising him forever evaporates.
2. Tyrion’s threat about kings dying like flies, comes back to bite him very hard after Joffrey’s death.   
3. The Blackfish apparently escaped by swimming down the river. Very appropriate.
4. We finally learn that Ramsey is Roose Bolton’s bastard.  It was pretty obvious beforehand though. 
5. Shae really seems to love Tyrion.  It makes it weird how she instantly betrays him, even when everything he warned her about was true. 
6. The scene of Dany looking up while surrounded by a mob is imitated in season 6 when Jon stares straight up after surfacing from a mob at the Battle of the Bastards.  It is supposed to symbolize their births into who they really are.

Stray Observations:

1. Pycelle clearly dropped the note on purpose.  That old bastard. 
2. You could see the air drop from the room when Joffrey went after Tywin. 
3. Gendry rowed down that stream for 4 seasons.
4. Somehow the Hound killing all those men with Arya was a sweet moment

RIP: All the Frey men Arya and the Hound slaughtered. 

Season 3 is over. Some incredibly memorable moments, including the best show moment of all.  Looking forward to the Red Viper and Season 4.

Things I Liked:  The entire Red Wedding sequence was incredible.  They did a great job capturing the building horror of the situation.  The Jon and Ygritte scenes were also a highlight, they were only in a handful of episodes but their chemistry worked well.  Another highlight was the bathtub scene between Jaime and Brienne.

Things I Did Not Like:  I can’t understand why the show kept Balon Greyjoy alive so long.  I also was not a fan of how unreasonable Stannis was when it came to Davos.  When Davos freed Edric Storm in the book, Stannis was disappointed but he certainly did not sentence him to death.  I sometimes feel like D & D never really understood his character and made him a bit too much like a villain, instead of the nuanced character he is.

Episode 19: Blackwater

“Don’t fight for your king, don’t fight for his kingdoms, don’t fight for honor, don’t fight for glory, don’t fight for riches because you won’t get any. This is your city Stannis means to sack, your gate he’s ramming. If he gets in, it will be your houses he burns, your gold he steals, your women he will rape. Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let’s go kill them!”

Major Plot Points: Tyrion tries to stop the True King of Westeros.  Cersei and Sansa celebrate a siege together.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Tyrion’s plan to defeat Stannis had 2 major points. The wildfire, and a giant chain that was laid across the entire bay.  Once Stannis’ fleet entered the bay, the chain came up trapping the ships inside so they could burn in the wildfire.  Nearly every smith in King’s Landing worked on it.
2. Stannis is revered as a one of the greatest battle commanders left in Westeros.  He was able to destroy a majority of the Greyjoy fleet during the Greyjoy Rebellion singlehandedly.  This is extremely impressive when you remember that the Greyjoys are supposedly the masters of naval warfare.
3. Wildfire is said to burn so hot, that jumping into water wouldn’t be enough to put it out. 
4. Tyrion’s mountain men played a large part in this battle.  They were sent to the Kingswood to delay ground troops from Stannis.  This was a great tactic by Tyrion since the mountain men were very comfortable fighting in wooded terrain.
5. When Tyrion breached the wall, he went into battle mode, and actually killed quite a few men with his axe. 
6. The Hound actually drunkenly kissed Sansa when he left.  Very weird.
7. Stannis’ men swore after the battle, that they saw the ghost of Renly fighting against them.  In reality, it was Loras Tyrell in Renly’s armor wearing his stag helmet.

Other Points to Notice

1. We finally hear “The Rains of Castamere” being sung for the first time.  This song has huge symbolic importance throughout the show, and usually comes before a Lannister victory.  The song of course was written after Tywin destroyed an entire house for disobeying him.
2. Varys despises all things magic, especially the followers of the Red God R’hollor.  He talks more about this later in the series
3. Joffrey could not beat Stannis in a sword fight.  Not even close.
4. Huge difference between the speech Stannis gives to rally his men, and the speech Tyrion later gives.  Stannis is a practical man of few words.  “Come with me and take this city”.
5. Tyrion rallying the remnants of the Lannister forces into battle, and leading them against Stannis saved the city.  Tywin would have arrived too late to save them if Tyrion didn’t buy all that time.  He never gets any credit or love for this.
6. Sansa picks up the doll Ned once bought her.  Not surprising she kept it this long

Stray Observations

1. Why was that barrel the soldier puked into completely full? Not a single person could empty it?
2. People really think that Varys is into little boys.  It does not help that he uses children as his spies. 
3. The Hound really likes Sansa.
4. This is the first episode of the series to only focus on one storyline the entire time. 

RIP:  Ser Mandon Moore.  Podrick speared him real bad.

Episode 20: Valar Morghulis

“These bad people are what I’m good at, outtalking them, outthinking them. It’s what I am, and I like it. I like it more than anything I’ve ever done.”

Major Plot Points: Sansa loses a fiancé.  Jon proves fights his brother.  Robb gets hitched.  Arya receives a nice trinket.  Tyrion lies in bed.  Dany has her dragons perform tricks.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Tyrion received a worse injury than a scar.  The front of his nose was completely cut off.  This would have obviously involved a lot of prosthetics for Peter Dinklage, and was understandably cut from the show
2. Stannis never attacked Melisandre.  At least not from what we have seen.  Our only glimpses into Stannis come from Davos and Jon POV chapters. He did gaze into the fire, and apparently saw The Wall.
3. “The horn-blowing cunt” torturing Theon, is of course Ramsey Snow.  He began messing with Theon before Theon even knew who he was.
4. Ramsey captured and flayed every single ironborn that surrendered.  They somehow would have been better off dying in a pointless battle.
5. It’s a ridiculous writing mistake that Robb and Talisa get married by a septon.  Robb has only worshipped the Old Gods his entire life, and Talisa was from Volantis! Neither of them ever practiced the Faith of the Seven! Definitely a huge oversight that only uptight nerds would care about, but I care god damn it.
6. Dany never saw Khal Drogo in her visions.  Her most important vision showed her late brother Rhaegar, talking about how “the dragon must have 3 heads”.  That one scene sparked hundreds of theories about which 2 people could be possibly secret Targaryens.
7. Xaro Xhoan Daxos did not die in a vault.  Daenerys fled the city after killing Pyat Pree, before the other warlocks could attack her.  Daxos eventually found Dany at Mereen and again asked her to marry him.
8. Sam and company actually fought against the White Walkers and wights at The Fist of the First Men, in a pretty terrifying battle.  The show skipped over this battle and instead showed us the massive army from just Sam’s perspective.

Other Points to Notice

1. Sansa looks understandably elated she lost her betrothal to Joffrey.  She obviously is relieved to not marry him, but Littlefinger reminds her she has no protection in King’s Landing now.
2. It’s rare, but Catelyn is completely right in her argument against Robb.  I doubt they anticipated just how right she would be.
3. Maester Lewin was giving Theon great advice.  If Theon made it to the Wall all his sins would be forgiven and he could have lived the rest of his life honorably.  Also he then never would have met Ramsey.
4. Lewin was lucky Osha put him out of his misery.  A gut wound like his would take 3 or 4 excruciating days to kill him
5. Dany seeing the Iron Throne covered in snow could sure allude to a whole lot of things.  Guess we will find out if it is literal or metaphorical in Season 8 (“Snow” v.s. “snow”).
6. Qhorin’s last words “We are the Watchers on the Wall” are of course lines from the oath a man makes when he commits to the Night’s Watch.  It made  Jon realize Qhorin sacrificed himself so Jon could infiltrate Mance’s army.

Stray Observations

1. Seems like Littlefinger has officially began using his signature raspy voice.  We will never hear him speak normal again.
2. That was a weirdly smart move by the Stark soldier when he asked Jaime and Brienne for Jaime’s fake name at the same time.
3.  The dragons did not look great, CGI wise. 

RIP: Maester Lewin.  Easy to forget how great of a person he was, since he died relatively early in the shows run. 

Episode 21: Valar Dohaeris

“Before winter is done, everyone you’ve ever known will be dead”

Major Plot Points: Jon swears a new oath.  Tyrion visits his father.  Robb visits a graveyard.  Davos protests burning prisoners. Margaery enters the game. Daenerys meets The Unsullied.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The cold open begins with a black screen and the sounds of a battle.  This is the only hint we get of the actual battle at the Fist of the First Men.
2. Jon hears the wildings singing a song in camp, called “The Last of the Giants”. It’s a tragic song about the slow death of the Giants in the North. There are only a handful left at this point of the story.
3. Davos had several remaining children at home with his wife.  But we never see his wife in the show or books.
4. Roose Bolton at this point was already in command at Harrenhal.  Also, his “best hunter” was a psychopathic man named Vargo Hoat.  Vargo commanded a group of sellswords who went by “The Brave Companions”.  They were among the worst mercenaries in Westeros and committed countless war crimes.  Hoat was replaced with Locke in the show, probably because Hoat was a bit too cartoonish for television.
5. It wasn’t Littlefinger that approached Sansa about escape.  He used Ser Dontos, the drunken fool from the beginning of Season 2 that Sansa saved from Joffrey’s anger.  She did not know it was Littlefinger pulling the strings until after she escaped.
6. Missandei was only a child.  About 10 years old.
7. The manticore assassination took place in Qaarth.  Barristan was also not revealed to be Barristan until later.  He went by Arstan Whitebeard, and was accompanied by a giant eunuch fighter named Strong Belwas.  His absence from the show is criminal, he was hilarious and an excellent fighter.

Other Points to Notice

1. The scene with Jon meeting Tormund plays out very similar to the books.  Jon believes that Tormund is Mance, because of how intimidating he is.  Mance hid in the corner playing a lute.
2. Jon played his hand well with Mance.  Bringing up the White Walkers was the only thing that could convince Mance he was serious about joining.  The wildlings entire motivation for attacking the Wall is to escape them.
3. This is the 2^nd time we have now seen Bronn almost fight Meryn Trant.  Unfortunately it never happens for real.
4. Davos is shipwrecked very close to King’s Landing, in Lannister territory.  And yet he still does not lie about who he fought for.  That’s one loyal guy.
5. The man Talisa revives is none other than Qyburn.  You may remember him as the insane doctor that turns the Mountain into a zombie.
6. Daenerys mentions that the warlocks must have sent the manticore. We never met any warlocks besides Pyat Pree, but apparently they do exist in the show behind the scenes.

Stray Observations:

1. I wish that Mance on the show was as cool as Mance in the books.  He should be a smooth talking killer that can play the lute.
2. Cersei breaks the fourth wall a bit. “They say you lost your nose” is a reference to Tyrion losing his nose in the book.
3. Tywin seemed a bit unnecessarily harsh towards Tyrion.
4. Cersei never trusts Margaery for even a second.  Very smart of her.

RIP: The nipple of the Unsullied soldier?  No real deaths in this one.

Episode 22: Dark Wings Dark Words

“And everything that’s happened since then, all this horror that’s come to this family, is all because I couldn’t love a motherless child”

Major Plot Points: Robb receives bad news.  Arya meets a brotherhood.  Jon learns about his ex-brothers. Sansa eats lemon-cakes with Margaery. Joffrey gives a crossbow lesson.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. We never saw Theon tortured.  After he was knocked out at Winterfell, we didn’t hear from him until 3 books later, when he was already fully transformed into Reek.
2. Olenna was not as present, but just as deceitful and awesome.  She secretly tried to have Sansa marry Willas Tyrell, who was the brother of Loras and Margaery.  He does not exist in the show universe.
3. Hoster Tully was still alive when Robb and Cat arrived in Riverrun.  He was dying and delusional, but through his rants Cat learned that at one point Littlefinger impregnated her sister Lysa, and the baby was aborted.
4. One notable member from the Brotherhood Without Banners was Harwin,  an old member of Ned Stark’s guard that was originally sent with Beric to fight The Mountain.  Arya recognizes him and is more relaxed about the Brotherhood after.
5. Jaime losing to Brienne was explained a bit better.  He was malnourished and weak from months of captivity. 

Other Points to Notice

1. Roose Bolton at this point was already planning with Tywin and Walder Frey.  This is obvious since the letter he gives Robb claims Ramsey never saw Theon at Winterfell, which is proven a lie in the next scene.  He probably began plotting when Jaime was freed, and saw an opening when Robb broke his marriage vow.
2. Sansa is falling into the same trap as her mother.  No matter how many times he tricks people, the Starks love trusting Littlefinger.
3. Cat was always cold to Jon.  We saw a bit of this in Season 1. Tragic since he was not born from Ned’s infidelity like Cat was led to believe. It’s also interesting to hear that Ned refused to give him the Stark name.  We now know the true reason (He ain’t no Stark)
4. Jon meets his first warg, and later for the first time we hear Bran referred to as a warg.
5. Joffrey is fixated on his crossbow.  Many times throughout the books (unsure about the show) the crossbow is referred to as a cowards weapon.  Clearly the writers liked this analogy. 

Stray Observations:

1. Jojen was much smaller and sickly looking.
2. Gendry is right.  Arya was very poor at choosing her 3 kills.
3. First time we see Thoros, he is singing Rains of Castamere.  Are there only like 2 songs in Westeros?
4. Margaery saying she doesn’t understand the subtleties of politics is an all time hilarious moment.  She then gets Joffrey to like her by feeding into his psychopathic tendencies.  I think she knows what she’s doing.

RIP: All the lemoncakes that Sansa ate while hanging with Olenna.

Episode 23: Walk of Punishment

“Send your eagle over The Wall every night. When it’s time I’m going to light the biggest fire the North has ever seen”

Major Plot Points: Jon learns he has a lot of climbing ahead.  Arya says goodbye to an old friend.  Sam sees his crush again.  Tyrion gives Podrick a reward.  Jaime is deceived handedly.  Theon gets saved, then captured, then saved.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The Blackfish (Ser Brynden Tully) got his nickname from being called the black sheep of his family by his brother.  Brynden reminded his brother that their sigil is a fish, and that would make him a black fish instead.  He had a strained relationship with his brother, mostly because he constantly refused to marry the political partners that his brother tried to arrange.  
2. The Inn at the Crossroads is one of the most commonly seen locations in the countryside of Westeros.  Here is a list of a few major things that happen there; Ned killed Lady, Cat kidnapped Tyrion, and Hot Pie gained employment.
3. The symbols the White Walkers leave are never explained.  They also seem to communicate more verbally.
4. Jon traveled with Ghost the entirety of his time north of the Wall.  At least until he had to scale it.  Then Ghost met up with Sam, not before.
5. Melisandre never left Stannis.  The show only did this because they did not introduce Edric Storm.  Edric was one of Robert’s bastards that Stannis captured when he took over Storm’s End in the south.  Gendry acts as his plot substitute, or plotstitute if you will.
6. Podrick doesn’t get to enjoy the company of all of those whores, but it’s now canon as far as I’m concerned.

Other Points to Notice

1. Edmure was shown to be an ineffective leader from his first 2 scenes.  As if not being able to aim an arrow wasn’t enough, he got completely verbally owned by Robb for his actions against Gregor Clegane.
2. Getting Tywin to approve of him marrying Lysa Arryn, was always a huge part of Littlefinger’s plans.  Being the Lord of the Vale would make Littlefinger one of the most powerful lords in the Seven Kingdoms.
3.  Try to recognize Martyn Lannister, the prisoner that Talisa is tending to.  It is the same actor who eventually is recast as Tommen Baratheon in Season 4.  I guess the showrunner’s really thought he killed it in his 1 line of dialogue.
4. Watching the scenes between Dany and Kraznys are so much better knowing that she can understand all of the insults he sends in her direction.  She shows great restraint in not reacting to him.
5. The soldier that Ramsey kills with a point blank arrow calls him a bastard.  Theon did not pick up on the fact that the soldier was being literal.
6. Jaime tells Locke how his father used to make him read every day for 4 hours.  This is a callback to what Tywin tells Arya in Season 2.

Stray Observations:

1. Gotta love the chair move that Tyrion performs.  Probably the longest dialogue pause in the show.
2. We get to hear “The Bear and the Maiden Fair” which of course is song 2 of 2 in Westeros.
3. “I’m no Stark of Winterhell”. We will all miss you Hot Pie.
4. First time we see Karl Tanner aka “The Legend of Gin Alley” he stares at one of Craster’s daughters with a creepy smile.
5. Tyrion uses the term “Mereenese Knot”. This is a reference to the situation George RR Martin described himself in while struggling to write all of the Mereen storylines in book 5.
6. The juxtaposition of Jaime screaming from losing his hand, and the rock version of “Bear and the Maiden Fair” is incredible, but very un-game of thrones like. 

RIP: Jaime’s sword hand

Episode 24: And Now His Watch Is Ended

“A dragon is not a slave”

Major Plot Points: Tyrion consults with the spider. Sansa makes a new girl friend.  Sam and friends grow treasonously hungry.  Daenerys gets an army

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Through Jaime’s POV it is shown just how much his ability to fight with a sword dictated his personality.  Losing his hand was worse than a death sentence for him, because with it he lost his identity.  This ultimately would lead to him becoming a better man.
2. While Varys did have the same backstory, we never got to see him capture his old tormentor.  It certainly is possible that it happened.
3. Theon never says the words out loud about how he felt Ned was really his father.  By the time we see him again he is almost too far gone to reflect on all of his decisions.
4. Brienne never called Jaime “a bloody woman”.  A lot of people were unhappy with this line of dialogue because it makes Brienne seem far too self loathing and angry against her gender.
5. Jeor Mormont’s last words were to Sam.  He told him to convince his son, Jorah, to come back home and take the black so he could be forgiven of his past crimes.

Other Points to Notice

1. Mixing an open hand wound and horse shit was almost a death sentence for Jaime.  His arm grew extremely infected from his fall.
2. Varys is extremely interested in every move that Littlefinger makes.  This is because Littlefinger is among the only people in the world that Varys finds to be a threat.  Through Ros, Varys learns of Littlefinger’s plan to get Sansa out of the capitol.
3. Joffrey listening to Margaery and ignoring Cersei was a blatant sign of how Cersei was losing control over him.  Margaery works very fast.
4. Sansa started the series off wanting to be a southern girl, but now that her life has turned into a nightmare, she finds comfort in her northern identity.  When Margaery finds Sansa, she is praying at the stump of a weirwood tree.  Her father always prayed at the same type of tree in Winterfell.  It’s hard to make it out, but you can see the giant white stump as she leaves the cliffside. 
5. Varys was attempting to convince Olenna to marry Sansa to Loras.  Just so Littlefinger would not have her. 
6. The last time we saw Beric Dondarrion, he was being sent off by Ned to bring the Mountain to justice.  He was also a different actor.

Stray Observations:

1. We get to see Sam’s thimble again, as Gilly gives it back to him.  It really did not serve any purpose.  I’ll keep an eye out for it in the future
2. Cersei almost seems to have a careful respect for Olenna Tyrell.
3. Tywin was unnecessarily harsh towards Cersei.  He has now talked shit to 2/3 children.  Jaime has it coming.
4. This was a very Varys heavy episode.
5. I think this is my favorite Daenerys moment.  Complete control of the entire situation.

RIP: Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. And now his watch is ended.

This was definitely the best block of episodes so far. From the Battle of the Blackwater to Daenerys claiming her army of Unsullied, it seems like a lot is happening at once now. The rest of this season will also be great, and I am especially looking forward to the infamous Red Wedding. It may be easier to pick up on new things there, since I won’t be blinded by sadness.

Things I Liked:

They truly did the Battle of the Blackwater justice. The scene of the wildfire exploding has already gone down in television history. It was the moment that really solidified the series as being just as spectacular visually as any blockbuster movie.
I also already like Dany’s plotline in season 3 better than season 2. Probably her most successful storyline. The only thing season 3 is missing so far, is more Jon and Ygritte scenes. They are coming though.

Things I Did Not Like:

Everything that had to do with Qaarth. It was boring, and served no real purpose. At least in the books Dany got some prophecy given to her.
I also do not like the direction the show went with Mance Rayder. He gets barely any screen time and you don’t get to see the charismatic man that he is in the book series. I mean the guy once infiltrated Winterfell as a bard just to see what it was like. Hard to imagine the show version of Mance do anything but scowl angrily. I also wish we got to go more into Jon’s ability to see through Ghost. Or just more Ghost in general.

(This week I realized I would have no time during the weekend to write this blog, so I decided to do it a bit early. It will work out for the best, since now if you are following the binge schedule, you can read each synopsis after you watch the episodes.)

Episode 7: You Win or You Die

“I did warn you not to trust me”

Major Plot Points:

Ned confronts Cersei with the truth of Joffrey’s parentage.  Jon is worried when his uncle does not return from his journey.  Dany discovers people from her ancestral home are plotting against her.   Jaime gets some advice from his father.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Tywin had a clean shaven face and pronounced sideburns.  But Charles Dance captured the role so well that I would argue he has overtaken book Tywin as the definitive version.
2. There were no “How to be a Prostitute 101” courses by Littlefinger
3. Osha referenced “The Long Night”. This is a term for the generation long winter that took place in Westeros over 8000 years before the Targaryen conquest.  White Walkers descended upon the populace in a struggle known as the ‘War for the Dawn’.  Little is known about how the White Walkers were defeated, but it is said the Wall was formed directly after this conflict.
4. Ned asks Littlefinger for  the help of “The Goldcloaks”. This is the official name for the city guard of King’s Landing. They served whatever benefactor paid them the most.

Other Points to Notice

1. First scene with Tywin. Notice he is skinning a stag, symbolizing how the Lannisters will destroy the Baratheons from the inside out. During the filming of the scene, Charles Dance claimed the stag corpse was so cold he nearly got frostbite.
2. This is the last time Cersei is openly honest with someone about her incestual relationship until season 7.  It shows her confidence in being able to get Ned killed, or at least discredited.
3. Littlefinger was talking about Catelyn Stark (then Catelyn Tully) to Ros and the other girl in his brothel. He was raised in her home, and spent most of his boyhood madly in love with her.  When he came of age, he challenged her betrothed, Brandon Stark, to a duel for her hand. He of course lost, and Brandon won the right to marry Cat. Their betrothal lasted until the Mad King executed him, and little Ned Stark had to marry her instead.
4. Robert calls off Daenerys’ execution on his deathbed in a final act of redemption. It rings hollow upon remembering that when Robert first took the throne, Tywin Lannister laid the bodies of Rhaegar Targaryen’s infant children at his feet in a crimson blanket. He did this as an act of loyalty to the new king, an act which Robert readily accepted. This disgusted Ned, and caused him to leave Robert’s side. They remained estranged for 9 years, until circumstance forced them together again when they both had to join forces to fight against Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion. (Balon is Theon’s father).
5. When Jorah received the royal pardon in Vaes Dothrak, he realized that Dany was about to be assassinated. Because of this, he knew to stop her from drinking the poisoned wine.  It was at this point he stopped reporting on her to Varys. I guess he bought into her bullshit, so to speak.
6. Renly gave Ned an incredible offer, especially when you look back and see the volume of people Renly was able to recruit to his cause in season 2.  But Ned refused to turn on the rightful heir Stannis.  Littlefinger also gave him a good offer, but Ned’s honor would always be his undoing.

Stray Observations

1. Tywin informs Jaime that he gave him command of half of the Lannister forces, 30,000 men.  I guess they have a total around 60,000. Later in the episode, Jorah claims Khal Drogo has 40,000 men total. 
2. Seems like Theon always had a thing for Osha the wildling. This ends up being his downfall. Not soon enough. Fuck Theon.
3. Jon really is a dick. He told Sam being made a steward was honorable, until he himself was made one.
4. Take a mental note of the letter Ned sends to Stannis, it comes up again in season 2.
5. What a speech by Khal Drogo.  Although I can’t help but think that even if he made it to Westeros, his forces would be destroyed by the combined power of the pre-war seven kingdoms.
6. Littlefinger betraying Ned is one of the most pivotal moments in the series.  It is at this point when you realize just how intense this show will be.

Episode 8: The Pointy End

“What do you want Bronn? Gold, women, golden women? Stick with me and you’ll have them all”

Major Plot Points:

Arya and Sansa have to deal with the fallout from Ned’s arrest.  Jon encounters an ancient threat. Tyrion meets with the Hill Tribes.  Dany gets to see firsthand what a Dothraki raid is like.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Arya was more obviously changed by her cavalier murder of the stable boy. She often thought about it when remembering the day she ran from the tower of the hand. 
2. Robb Stark was never more than a secondary character.  We only really saw him through Cat’s eyes.  It is at this point in the show he starts taking more of a protagonist role.
3. The mountain men Tyrion recruits were mentioned semi-frequently when they got back to King’s Landing. Shagga Son of Dolf, and Timmet son of Timmet got into quite a few hijinks in the capitol.
4. When Jon grabbed the lantern, it severely injured him.  Afterwards, he constantly flexed his hand to get feeling back in it , a habit that he never gave up on, even years later when it was fully healed. The injury also shows that not all Targaryens are immune to fire like Daenerys seemingly is.
5. Barristan is the first and only Lord Commander of the King’s Guard to be released from duty, a title that is usually given for life.  It is a grievous insult to him, and Tywin later mentions it was a large error on Joffrey’s part to let him go.

Other Points to Notice

1. The main King’s Guard fighter that attacks Syrio is Meryn Trant, a terrible person who is always quick to carry out Joffrey’s more sadistic requests. Arya never forgives him, and includes him on her future hit list.
2. When Varys visits Ned in the cells under the Red Keep, it is the first time we see him being honest and open about his motives.  In his own way, all of his actions are for the betterment of the common folk. And in the next scene we see him, he is back at Cersei’s side, accusing Ned of treason.
3. Arya finds the letter Sansa wrote to Robb in season 7. She was not happy.
4. Tyrion tells Bronn he will double any offer he gets in the future. He tries invoking this when Bronn is employed by his brother Jaime.
5. First time we see wights in the show.  We saw White Walkers already in episode 1.  I wonder what would happen to Jon if he didn’t save the Lord Commander. Presumably Thorne would take charge and immediately hang Jon for attempting to stab him earlier in the mess hall.
6. It is a shame that the actor that played Greatjon Umber (the loud guy who lost his finger to Grey Wind) leaves the show after season 1. It would have been cool seeing him with Robb in future episodes. He was written off the show after the actor demanded more money and did not receive it.

Stray Observations

1. We never see Syrio die, he could still technically be alive still maybe.
2. Sansa makes an incredibly poor decision here, for some reason she still insists that she should marry Joffrey.  The Lannisters were clearly her enemy and she didn’t care one bit.
3. Quite a bit of time passes in this episode.  In one scene Sansa is being told to write a letter, in the next her brother is already reading it. Then later in the same episode, the entire north has been assembled and marched a significant distance south. 
4. Hard to hate Alliser Thorne. He’s such a complete dick head to Jon that it almost borders on comedy.
5. Considering Osha just attempted to kill Bran, it is shocking she is allowed to wander unsupervised to where Bran is now praying.

Episode 9: Baelor

This is it, the episode that put Game of Thrones on the map

“Ser Ilyn, bring me his head”

Major Plot Points:

Ned pleads for mercy. Robb makes an unfortunate deal to help his army. Jon has to decide where his loyalties lie. Dany consults the help of magic. Tyrion enjoys his first taste of battle.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The Twins (Stronghold of Walder Frey) serve as the only viable option for armies marching south/north to cross the trident, an area of the country where 3 large rivers meet.  Robb was entirely at his mercy when he agreed to wed his daughter.
2. Longclaw, the sword Jon receives from Jeor Mormont, is known as a bastard sword, since it is in between a short sword and a long sword in length.  A bit on the nose.
3. Aemon Targaryen was actually the uncle of Jaehaerys Targaryen, who in turn was the father of Aerys, the mad king.  But the show changes this and eliminates Jaehaerys from the picture entirely. Not entirely sure why. 
4. Tyrion was conscious for the full battle, and through his POV we were able to see all the details of it.  The main reason that Tyrion was knocked out so early in the show was due to the production team not having the budget to show a full battle.  Things have changed since then. 
5. Tyrion thinks of his ex-wife, Tysha frequently.  It ends up being revealed that she was not a whore, and her feelings for Tyrion were genuine.  Tywin forced Jaime to tell Tyrion that story.  This revelation greatly changes Tyrion as a character. I don’t believe she comes up again in the show.
6. Ned was able to see Arya in the crowd, and signaled to Yoren to shield her from watching him die.

Other Points to Notice

1. The title of the episode “Baelor” references the location where Ned is beheaded, the Sept of Baelor.  It was commissioned by King Baelor The Blessed, an insane Targaryen king who made the official Westerosi religion the Faith of the Seven. He died while fasting.
2. Jon still doesn’t know this, but Maester Aemon is actually his great-great-grand uncle.  Aemon also probably would have liked to know, especially since his dying wish was to meet Daenerys, who he believed to be the last member of his family.
3. Tywin placed Tyrion and his mountain men in the vanguard, which was the first unit at the front lines in battle. It could have been a death sentence for him and his men, which is why he was not amused to be sent there.  
4. It is not entirely clear if Mirri Maz Duur purposely infected Drogo’s wound.  She definitely did not help the situation with her blood magic that killed Dany’s unborn child though.
5. Tywin believed that Robb was heading directly for his battalion with his full 20,000 men, because of the scout that Robb released from his camp.  This move allowed Robb to capture Jaime by surprise.  Very rare to outsmart Tywin in a battle, but Robb was truly a prodigy when it came to battle.
6. The only reason Ned renounced his claim of Joffrey being a bastard, was for his daughter.  This is the 2^nd and last time we know of him ever lying. 

Stray Observations

1. The show does a great job at showing you how disgusting Walder Frey is, in just one scene. 
2. The “actress” that plays Shae was an amateur porn actress in Germany. 
3. Bronn claims, indirectly, to have been north of the Wall during Tyrion’s truth or lie game.  Not sure if this ever comes up again but it is interesting.
4. Joffrey really kicked the hornet’s nest by ordering Ned to be killed.  There was no way Robb would ever surrender after this.

Episode 10: Fire and Blood

“Why shouldn’t we rule ourselves again? It was the dragons we bowed to and now the dragons are dead.”

Major Plot Points: Arya heads north. Sansa is bothered by Joffrey’s pranks. Robb receives a new title.  Jon commits to a life of celibacy.  Dany is reborn.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Bran and Rickon both foresaw their father’s death in vivid dreams. Maester Luwin tried to convince them that their dad was fine, but they both seemed to prophesize the event correctly. It is hinted that all the Starks are wargs, but in the show we only focus on Bran’s ability.
2. The last King in the North, Torrhen Stark, was known as “The King who Knelt” he surrendered to Aegon Targaryen when he saw the destruction that 3 dragons could do to an army.
3. Dany annoyingly recites Mirri Maz Duur’s prophecy in her head constantly throughout the series  “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east blah blah blah”.
4. Jon left his sword behind on purpose when he fled Castle Black. It brought him shame to look at it. He knew breaking his vows would betray Jeor Mormont, who already had a son betray him.
5. Dany’s hair was burned off when she walked out of the funeral pyre.  Makes sense she kept it here, since it is extremely identifiable. Also marketable let’s be serious.

Other Points to Notice

1. The episode title “Fire and Blood” is a reference to the official words of House Targaryen.
2. The Hound always favored Sansa. This is the first act of kindness we see from him towards her.  She had very mixed feelings about him but saw the good side deep down.
3. It disgusts me to see Theon declare loyalty to Robb.  He betrayed him at the first chance he got.
4. Lancel Lannister somehow never recovers from being Cersei’s concubine. The shame of the whole ordeal is what drove him to become a religious zealot under the High Sparrow. 
5. This is one of the only times, if not the only time, that Tywin acknowledges Tyrion as capable.
6. We see Grand Maester Pycelle with Ros, the only whore in Westeros, and afterwards when she leaves he engages in some incredibly acrobatic calisthenics. It is very apparent he is not as old and weak as he pretends to be.
7. There are theories that the only reason the dragon eggs hatch in the funeral pyre, is because of Dany sacrificing Mirri Maz Duur. This rings especially true when you consider how often we recently heard “Only death can pay for life”

Stray Observations

1. Hitting a sword against a tree is very bad for the blade.  Not a great warrior move by Robb.
2. Most people know this by now, but in the scene where we see Ned’s head on a spike, in the original broadcasting a fake head of George Bush was also shown on a spike.  It was a leftover prop from another HBO show.  People were not cool about this.
3. Mixed feelings seeing Robb be declared King in the North.  It ends so badly and ruins the greatness of the moment a bit.
4. The actress who plays Shae…really is not the best actress.
5. HOT PIE. Also we see Jaqen H’Ghar in the back of the prison wagon. 

Daenerys Boob Counter: 1

Overall Count: 2.5

Episode 11: The North Remembers

“You love your children, it’s your one redeeming quality, that and your cheekbones”

Major Plot Points: Bran tries to be a lord.  Tyrion begins his rule as hand. Dany tries to find a place to live. Arya heads for The Wall. Jon heads away from The Wall. Robb torments his captive

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Ser Dontos Hollard makes his first show appearance.  As a jester, we see him often during Sansa’s time at King’s Landing.  He meets her secretly in the gardens frequently and promises to help her escape the Lannisters.
2. Almost every single faction uses the display of the red comet to justify good fortune for themselves. My opinion is that it was just an incredible coincidence. 
3. Dany names her 3 dragons, Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon. Named after her brothers, Viserys and Rhaegar, and after her late husband.
4. The Night’s Watch use Craster’s Keep as lodging in almost all of their northern travels.  Everyone hates the man, but they try to keep relations cool with him due to the ideal location.
5. Stannis retreated to Dragonstone (the ancestral home of the Targaryens) when King Robert headed north to recruit Ned. He anticipated a war after Jon Arryn’s death, and wanted to prepare.

Other Points to Notice

1. The Hound once again goes out of his way to assist Sansa. The whole “nameday tradition” was completely fabricated.
2. The white raven used to signify the end of Summer, was actually a regular raven colored white, since a real albino raven is hard to come by.  A white raven always signifies the passing of a season in Westeros.
3. The random brother with Jon, Grenn, and Pyp, is none other than Dolores Ed Tollet. For some reason we only see him in the show now, but he remains as a close friend to Jon for the rest of the series.
4. Mance Rayder is talked about quite a bit in this episode.  Born a wilding, he was taken by the Night’s Watch as a child and eventually left them to go back to the north and raise an army. 
5. Melisandre believes that Stannis is Azor Ahai reborn, the prophesized savior who will use his flaming sword, Lightbringer, to save the people from death.  I also believe this. Stannis is the fucking man.
6. The pouch Davos wears around his neck contains his old fingerbones that Stannis had removed.
7. Fuck Theon. Why did Robb listen to him.  One of the few things that Catelyn was ever right about. 

Stray Observations

1. I feel like the show wasted this title early.  The North does not get any semblance of revenge for an insanely long time.
2. We still see the original actor and actress for Tommen and Myrcella this season.
3. Tyrion is whistling “The Rains of Castemere” as he walks into the Small Council Meeting. We also hear it again in the background when Cersei threatens Littlefinger.
4. I love Maester Luwin. What an absolute gem of a person.
5. For all the flak he gets, Stannis is very honest. He insists on only truth in the letter to the realm about Joffrey.
6. That was some fast acting poison that Maester Cressen drank.
7. Is “cum” an anachronism? I am not expert on medieval terms but it seems a bit weird.
8. Imagine Joffrey killed his mom after she slapped him?
9. Surprised the show didn’t get more flak for the mass infanticide that went on. Robert was said to have had 16 bastards.

RIP: Maester Cressen? He sure did try to poison Melisandre I guess.

Episode 12: The Night Lands

“It seems unfair for one man to have so many wives. Surely one or two would suffice”

Major Plot Points: “Dany gets bad news from her scout. Jon tries to calm down Sam.  Arya learns she is not the most wanted member of her caravan. Tyrion takes out the trash.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The other 2 prisoners in the cage with Jaqen are men named Rorge and Biter.  They occasionally show up in the Riverlands throughout the books.
2. The Whitewalkers are seen far less, and are described as a bit more human looking.  It is possible they can communicate with wildings somehow. That would explain just how Craster set up his truce with them, in which he donates his male children.
3. Not sure I have mentioned this yet, but Ros “The Only Whore in Westeros” was not a character. Rewatching now I see that they used her to serve as a familiar face in many scenes that gave us character background information.
4. Theon’s sister (the one he finger-blasted) was named Asha. She had her name changed to Yara in the TV show, as to not confuse viewers with the wildling in Winterfell named Osha.  It is easier to distinguish between the two names while reading I guess.
5. Davos had seven sons, not one.
6. The map on which Stannis shags Melisandre, was created by Aegon the Conqueror.  He first landed and built Dragonstone, and used that map to plan his conquest of Westeros.

Other Points to Notice

1. There are many theories as to why Jaqen was imprisoned. Most people do not believe for a second that a Faceless Man could ever be thrown in jail without wanting to.
2. Daenerys proclaims that the rival Khal’s would pay for what they did to Rakharo.  It takes a very long time, but eventually she does seek revenge against the Dothraki.
3. The milk maiden that Theon bangs on his ship. may be the last person he is able to sleep with for the rest of his life.
4. Tyrion did the entire world a service by sending Janos Slynt to the Wall.  Unfortunately, when he got there he became a huge thorn in Jon’s side.
5. The Iron Islands, while a very strong naval presence, are not geographically significant.  They have been trying to free themselves from the crown since it was incepted, but never successfully. 
6. Cersei is beginning to see that Joffrey is a complete monster and this knowledge is beginning to severely wear her down.

Stray Observations

1. Tyrion did not look happy to see Shae talking with Varys.
2. Fish pie is a euphemism for hair pie. Also this scene adds fuel to the “Varys is secretly a merman” theory
3. Littlefinger’s voice is beginning to get his signature raspiness.  I wonder if it was done on purpose, or as the show went on Aiden Gillen found it more natural to speak that way in character.
4. You will never see Bronn and Cersei in the same scene. They used to date before the show and now despise each other.
5. Gendry and Arya have an instant rapport. 
6. I miss old drunk and bitchy Cersei. 

RIP:  Rakharo,a loyal member of Daenerys’ khalasar

Another week down.  I am very glad to get out of Season 1, since I have seen it far more than any other season.  Season 2-4 are what I consider the peak of the series and I am looking forward to seeing all of it unfold again.

THINGS I LIKE: I actually really like how the show decides to focus more on Robb Stark than in the books.  It makes his story more meaningful, and sets up one of the greatest all time TV moments.  Also I love this part of the show where Tyrion is Hand.  We get to see him at his snarkiest, and most powerful. 

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE: Not much to complain about at this point of the series.  I don’t particularly love the casting of Yara Greyjoy, she was described as a much different character in the books. A bit more cocky and good looking.  This actress grows on you after a while.

Episode 1: Winter is Coming

First off lmfao that’s the title.

“The man who passes the sentence, should swing the sword”

Major Plot Points: A party from the Nights Watch encounters a White Walker.  King Robert goes to Winterfell to recruit Ned to be his hand.  Bran gets crippled by Jaime. Daenerys gets married to Drogo. Jon wants to join the Nights Watch.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. 9 Years since Ned and Rob saw each other. Last time they met was for Balon Greyjoys rebellion.
2. The bearded Nights Watch Ranger from the first scene, Gared has no ears in the book. Kinda mad he has ears in the show.
3. The dickish guy from the first scene, Ser Waymar Royce got such an epic fight in the against the White Walkers. He just gets absolutely dicked here
4. They were called The Others in the books guys, not the white walkers.
5. Cat was the main reason Ned went to Kings Landing. It was her idea. Not here in the show though.
6. Still bothers me the Targaryens don’t have violet eyes. It cant cost that much

Other Points to Notice

1. The statue of Lyanna Stark that Robert visits really is not brought up again for many seasons
2. Fun fact: Emilia Clarke got the role of Daenerys because she was the only actress that could portray both the timid scared version of Dany, and the bitch ass queen version.
3. Tyrion and Jons bromance begins here. Its probably the most important bro ship in the series.
4. Important to remember. The letter Cat gets from her sister was completely fabricated by Littlefinger in his attempt to start a war. He killed it with this plan.

Stray Observations

1. Glad they didnt stick with bleach blonde Tyrion
2. Poor Jaime, he only ever wanted Ned’s respect, but Ned was always a dick to him.
3. Ned beheads Will the deserter. Foreshadowing alert!
4. The scene when Robert enters Winterfell is the first and last scene we see all the Starks together

Daenerys Boob Counter: 1

Episode 2: The Kingsroad

Major Plot Points: Dany moves with Khal Drogo to the Dothraki capital. Cat has a hard time with Bran being in a coma. Ned and company journey to Kings Landing. Joffreys true colors show, and both Sansa and Arya lose their direwolves. Jon heads for the Wall

“First lesson, stick em with the pointy end”

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Jorah Mormont is portrayed as a giant hairy bear of a man. Not this dignified string bean.
2. Robb is supposed to be only 17, and Jon 15. Thats clearly not the case in the show.
3. Ned and Jon never have that last conversation, when Jon asks him about his mother.
4. Arya’s wolf Nymeria, is named after the warrior queen Nymeria from Dorne, who unified the southern lands.
5. Its never explicitly stated who sent the assassin to kill Bran. The best theory is that it was Joffrey, in a misguided attempt to make his dad proud of him after Robert comments it would be a mercy if Bran died instead of living as a cripple.
6. The Targaryens first invaded westeros as a trio, led by Aegon the conqueror and his 2 sisterwives.

Other Points to Notice

1. The actor and actress who play Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon (respectively) have major recasts later in the series.
2. When Cersei and Catelyn speak in Bran’s room, it was actually the first scene Lena Headey (actress who plays Cersei) filmed for the series.
3. Jon and Arya really come across as close siblings here. They literally don’t see each other again for 7 seasons.
4. Jon tells Robb “You Starks are hard to kill” Jon was never the smartest guy, he never sees Robb alive again.
5. Arya never gets over The Hound killing the butcher’s boy. She brings it up again in season 3 when the Hound is put on trial by Beric Dondarrion and the Brotherhood Without Banners

Stray Observations

1. Tyrion bitchslapping Joffrey will never not be awesome.
2. Jon is definitely more of a brooding loser in the early episodes, but he still comes across as honorable.
3. This is when Cat first starts losing her shit.
4. The actor who plays Ilyn Payne (scary mute guy, they call The Kings Justice) left the show to deal with late stage pancreatic cancer. He ended up beating it and is alive and well, but I think his character will stay written off the show at this point.

Episode 3: Lord Snow

“Gods I was strong then”

Major Plot Points: Ned Arrives in Kings Landing and gets the lay of the land. Jon finds the wall not as fun as he imagined. Catelyn gets to see Ned’s new digs. Dany gets more comfortable with her new Khaleesi position. Arya takes dancing lessons.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The iron throne isn’t nearly as cool in the show. Check the picture below
2. They did a great job with casting Arya. Especially when you remember that she is supposed to be a mini version of Lyanna Stark, Ned’s long dead sister.
3. Old Nan (lady that bored Bran with her stories) is actually the great-grandmother of Hodor.
4. Robert mentions his first kill was a Tarly.  The Tarlys were one of the last houses to pledge to Robert after the Rebellion.  Too bad he didn’t kill Randyll Tarly, then we wouldn’t have to deal with fat Samwell this whole series.
5. The man Jaime tells Robert he killed “from the brotherhood” is a reference to the Kingswood Brotherhood. The leader, known as The Smiling Knight, was defeated by non-other than Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning. Arthur Dayne knighted Jaime (his squire) after his victory.
6. We do see Benjen Stark again in the show, as an undead protector of Bran. But in the books, this is the last time we see him.  The undead knight, known in the books as Coldhands (lol) is confirmed to not be Benjen in the written series.
7. Don’t get me wrong, I love Syrio.  But he is supposed to be a tall, lanky bald guy, not this plump fancy curly haired man. But it still works somehow.

Other Points to Notice

1. Ned walking in on Jaime in the throne room is a direct callback to when Ned walked in on Jaime sitting on the throne after he killed Mad King Aerys
2. In the original Game of Thrones pilot, there was a flashback scene that showed Ned’s brother and father (Brandon & Rickard) being executed by the Mad King.
3. Its hard to blame the rest of the Night’s Watch for not liking Jon at first. He comes off as way too much of a hardo. “I’m better than everyone else!!!!!!!”- He literally says that.
4. “Petyr is like a little brother to me Ned” poor Littlefinger.
5. The scenes with Jon at the wall are filmed in a very hot location. If you look closely you’ll notice all the actors are sweating constantly.
6. Jeor Mormont, Jorah’s pops, is the current Lord Commander of the Nights Watch. Ppl forget that.

Stray Observations

1. Littlefinger has a completely different voice in season 1. As the show goes on you can hear it get weirder and raspier.
2. Wild that Ned lets Arya keep her sword. Yea she’s definitely a wild kid but still, a fucking sword??
3. Margaret John (Old Nan) died shortly after season 1 aired
4. Last time Ned and Catelyn ever see each other.
5. Maester Aemon is incredible, in the books he is a 100 year old blind man. And in the show he is played by a 100 year old blind man. Arguably the best casting of the entire show.
6. The next time Jon and Tyrion meet are in drastically different circumstances. Jon as a King and Tyrion as the Queen’s Hand

Daenerys Boob Counter: .5

Total: 1.5

Episode 4: Cripples Bastards and Broken Things

“I have a special place in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things”

I’m a sucker for title drops in dialogue

Major Plot Points: Jon meets a new hefty buddy at the Wall. Tyrion journeys with Yoren to King’s Landing. Dany arrives in the Dothraki capitol. I hate how the words capitol and capital are different. Excessive. Ned starts investigating Jon Arryn’s untimely demise.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The scene between Tyrion and Theon does not take place, but it does an excellent job giving the viewer some backstory on why Theon is even at Winterfell. Also FUCK Theon.
2. Viserys name-drops the dragon Meraxes during his bath tub scene. Meraxes was ridden by Queen Visenya, one of Aegon the Conquerors sister-wives when he took over Westeros.
3. Jon Arryn was more of a talked about character. He essentially raised both Ned and Robert in their youth when they were sent to the Eyrie under his care. This was a regular practice, you send your sons to other lords so they can learn the ways of the world.
4. Sam Tarly is fat in the written series too guys. The main difference between book Sam, and show Sam, is that show Sam is a relentless horndog. Ah fuck it I’m still a fan of him.
5. When Jon threatens Rast with Ghost, the scene actually really angers book readers. Ghost never once makes a single sound. It is his most identifying characteristic and helps give him the extra air of menace. Here however, he growls very loudly.

Other Points to Notice

1. You would think the Stark’s would be more appreciative of Tyrion’s saddle blueprint for Bran. It was a no strings attached gesture of kindness.
2. We meet Janos Slynt here. He is the guard advocating to Ned about throwing a tournament. He is better known as being the bitch ass guy Jon beheads when he is Lord Ruler later in the series.
3. Arya tells Ned “That’s not me” when he tells her she will one day be married to a Lord. In season 7, when Arya runs into Nymeria, her wolf, in the woods outside Winterfell, she pleads with Nymeria to return to her side and travel with her. When Nymeria leaves Arya asides “That’s not you”.
4. Ned sends Jory Cassel, the captain of his guard to interrogate Ser Hugh of the Vale.  Jory is the nephew of Rodrick Cassel, the old guard with the epic mutton chops that are tied together.
5. Jaime recalls Thoros of Myr, who is a major character later in the series. The red drunk priest.
6. Jon tells Sam about how he almost boned a red headed gal. I guess he has a type.
7. In the last scene, at the Inn at the Crossroads, if you look carefully to the right you can see Bronn. Who knew he ended up such a major player. Also there are Freys here. Gross

Stray Observations

1. I have a feeling the 3 eyed raven from Bran’s dream is going to be important. Nah never mind.
2. At least Viserys got one steamy sex scene. He is the rightful heir, so at the very least he deserves one.
3. Littlefinger starts laying his plans immediately. He brilliantly sets up Ned to find out the secret of the Lannisters.
4. First time we hear of the dick bag that is Sam’s father. We meet him personally in season 6. Still a dick bag
5. Jory and Jaime have a nice conversation outside of Robert’s chambers. Jory tells him one of the Greyjoys nearly took his eye. It’s ruined when you remember Jaime kills him a few episodes later with a dagger to the eye.
6. Ned is instantly suspicious of Grand Maester Pycelle. He was right.
7. Dany gets married off to a Khal and immediately seizes power with it. Poor Viserys never had a chance

Episode 5: The Wolf and the Lion

“Give me ten good men and some climbing spikes, and I’ll impregnate the bitch”

Major Plot Points: Ned gets closes to the truth about Joffrey much to the chagrin of Jaime.  Cat and Tyrion get to the Vale. Bran is not happy about anything that is going on.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Ned is not exaggerating when he tells Barristan he is glad they never fought. Barristan is a top 5 sword fighter in the series. I would only put Arthur Dayne, possibly Jaime in a straight up sword fight against him
2. Robert was much taller and far more imposing, but Mark Addy plays him too well for me to actually complain about it
3. When Arya overhears Varys speaking to a friend in the basement of the Red Keep, the friend he is speaking to is Ilyrio Mopatis. He is the guy Viserys and Daenerys stayed with in the first episode. He is much more visible in the books as one of Varys’ closest partners.
4. Yoren (the traveling member of the Night’s Watch) was written as a much more disgusting man. He always smelled like alcohol and was permanently covered in lice.
5. Robert hates all Targaryens because in his mind, Rhaegar Targaryen (Dany’s older brother) kidnapped and killed his childhood love Lyanna Stark. We later find out she married Rhaegar on her own free will, and also probably never liked Robert at all.
6. Crazy Lysa Arryn’s son, was named Robert. For some reason his nickname was Sweet Robin, and everyone called him by that. Probably why in the show they just named him Robin.
7. The scene between Cersei and Robert discussing their marriage is my favorite non-book scene in maybe the whole series. It does such a good job at characterizing both of them.  Also, Cersei never had a miscarriage with Robert’s child.
8. Ned and Jaime did not get in an outright sword fight. If they did Jaime would destroy him very quickly.

Other Points to Notice

1. The original actor who plays The Mountain (Conan Stevens) is actually 4 inches taller than the current actor  (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson). He quit the show to play an orc in The Hobbit. Hilariously, they didn’t even use him, since his orc ended up being entirely CGI
2. If the mountain men didn’t attack Tyrion and Cat, I really think he could have convinced her he wasn’t culpable in the attacks against Bran.
3. Ned really should have listened more to Varys. He’s a slimy little guy, but he does have more morals than Littlefinger. Who doesn’t though.
4. The conversation with Varys and Ilyrio sets up nicely just how predicted and manufactured the war between the Lannisters and the Starks truly was.
5. If Ned didn’t follow Littlefinger, he would have made it out of King’s Landing before Jaime could confront him, and all of this would be avoided. It’s almost like Littlefinger distracted him on purpose.
6. Interesting the 2 main protagonists of the show are not in this episode at all. 

Stray Observations

1. Ok how fucking sick was it when The Mountain sliced off his horse’s head.
2. CLEGANEBOWL PART 1 GET HYPE!!!!11!!!!!
3. Ros is actually the only whore in all of Westeros.
4. Ok I feel for Bran looking back now. His whole family ditched him.
5. Arya chewing out the king’s guards was an unreal TV moment.

RIP: Jory Cassel. Eye still have a hard time watching him die. ;]

Episode 6: A Golden Crown

“You don’t fight with honor” “No. He did”

Yeah I used back to back Bronn quotes. The guy is a quote machine what can I say

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. When Ned was recovering from his wound, he had an extremely detailed dream. It depicted him and his sworn banner-men fighting Ser Arthur Dayne and other members of the Kingsguard outside a tower. It ended with Ned finding his sister in a ‘bed of blood’ exclaiming “Promise me Ned” repeatedly. This dream gave birth to all the (now proven) theories that Jon Snow was actually the son of Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark. (R+L=J)
2. It is stated that if Dany were to throw up after eating the horse heart, she would not be worthy of bearing Khal Drogo’s son.
3. The sky cell that Tyrion is spending his time in, was described as having a slanted floor.  Most prisoners couldn’t sleep because of fear of rolling out of the cell, and ended up jumping anyway after they lost their minds.
4. The Moon Door was a vertical door out the side of the castle. I do like the trap door effect, but it certainly does bring up weird architectural structure questions.

Other Points to Notice

1. Something broke inside Cersei when Robert hit her. She really goes onto the attack for the rest of the series after this.
2. Theon was very eager to get Robb to start the war. He was equally eager to betray him. Fuck Theon.
3. Syrio’s speech about the God of Death really affects Arya as a character. His influence has a continuing affect (effect?) on her journey.
4. Viserys is entirely correct, Jorah does lust for Dany HARD. Can’t blame him, she even makes eating a heart look good.
5. This is the first time Tyrion attempts to tell the “jackass and a honeycomb in a brothel” story. It will not be the last, it’s a recurring joke throughout the series that we never get to hear the end of it. I’ll bring it up the next time it surfaces if I somehow am still doing this ridiculous blog. It will be worth sticking with just so I can publicly rant about how bad the writing is for the Sand Snakes.
6. Ned sends none other than Beric Dondarrion to bring The Mountain to justice.  Yes, that is the same Beric Dondarrion that is later recast and heads the Brotherhood without Banners in season 3.  (He is the guy with the eyepatch that rolls with the red priest, Thoros of Myr).

Stray Observations

1. The actress that plays Osha, the somewhat attractive wilding woman, also plays Tonks in the Harry Potter movies.
2. The heart that Dany eats, was made of the same material that gummy bears are made of. Emilia Clarke did not enjoy this scene as much as I did.
3. Tyrion had 4 incredible masturbation euphemisms.
4. Bronn vs. Ser Vardis Egan is one of the all time great fights in the series.  We barely know who Bronn is at this point, but this fight expertly shows you all there is to know.
5. Love how Tyrion pays his debt to the jailer. It says a lot about him. Also Mord was criminally underused as a character. I demand a spin-off
6. Joff is such a good guy. He even told Sansa he will never be cruel to her again.

RIP: Viserys Targaryen, third of his name.  Rightful King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.  Protector of the Realm.

Week 1 Summary:

I really did not think I would have this much to write about in every episode. I anticipate as this continues, I won’t have AS much book input, but who knows. One week down, 10.25 to go.

Things I Liked:

I really loved how well D&D (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the showrunners) did at showing us the nature of the main characters, instead of telling us through contrived dialogue. They clearly planned these first few episodes out for years and it shows. This is not always the case with the series going forward. But we will get there

Things I Did Not Like:

Ill preface by saying that Jaime’s character arc is my favorite in the series. I did not appreciate how hard the writers tried to portray him as the bad guy here. Some of his non-book scenes served no purpose other than to show how big of a dick he was. Most notably was his first conversation with Ned in Winterfell where he bragged about how good he was at fighting, and when Jaime kills Jory. (Jaime was not present in this attack in the books) The show does eventually show his redemption but I wish they did a better job of humanizing him in the beginning.