Oh yeah, of course it's a life-changing event for Arya. Also for demonstrating that there are people in this world (Walder Frey, specifically) who cannot be counted on to uphold even the most basic, essential rules of society. I thought the bit with the blokes circulating platters of bread and salt and then Frey giving the speech about the rules of Hospitality did explain that. Not as fully as reading about it several dozen times in preparations...but it was established. Though i suspect that was more of a moral upheaval to me personally than to the storyline. He can't die miserably enough.

I did appreciate the use of Talisa's pregnancy as a catalyst for the massacre, making it even more wrenching for the Stark contingent (and I should have seen that coming, duh, of course she couldn't survive Robb's death with a possible Stark heir.)

The grand scheme is mind-kicking, it's so huge and expansive. I find myself thinking of it as a game of universal domination. Everyone in Westeros, especially the Lannisters and Tyrells in King's Landing, believe it's a game for the Iron Throne, but they are short sighted in only seeing their immediate surroundings. As Northerners are quick to point out, those soft Southerners don't know anything about what is happening North of The Wall...which seems likely to become an increasingly severe problem for the realm

The novel saga is titled A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones is the title of only the first book) which seems far more encompassing than just that one paltry continent and squabbling over who sits where.

Yeah, my response to the Red Wedding was: these people are completely without honor. There is nothing to respect in what they did.

Okay, so I am pretty clear on the motivations for those in the South (the Iron Throne). What are we supposed to understand about the motivations for those in the North? I don't quite understand what they are after.

(going to bed now, so no rush)

What are we supposed to understand about the motivations for those in the North? I don't quite understand what they are after.

Being allowed back into King Joffrey's royal fold.

Also, Roose Bolton now nominally holds all the power in the North. Although only in the same way that Littlefinger is now nominally the Lord of Harrenhal.

One detail that kind of comes out after the fact, and may yet come out in the show is that Walder Frey and Roose Bolton have been in communication with Tywin Lannister since around the scene earlier this season where Tywin tells Tyrion that he will never inherit Casterly Rock. So basically they've all been planning this with Tywin, to buy his good graces, for almost the entire season. There was a reason Roose Bolton specifically requested that Jaime tell Lord Tywin that he had nothing to do with Jaime's maiming.

Well, the stuff happening in the North is not really explained. Common folks in The North are just trying to stock up food and supplies for the coming Winter. With no Stark in Winterfell there's a huge power vacuum. The IronBorn (Greyjoys) want to take over the North and rule it themselves, but they are rocky island folk whose strength is in ships and water-based warefare. Bolton is pretty much in charge pro tem with the blessing of the Lannisters (as he revealed when he stabbed Robb), but he's more interested in flaying and raping than helping anyone or securing the border. Little Finger is theoretically lord of Harrenhal and thus a ruling force in The North but he's busy in the Riverlands wooing Lyssa Arran so not currently in the picture at all. The Wildlings (under Mance) are fleeing to South of the Wall because...well...those White Walkers and their zombie hordes are super creepy. Everyone seems to be hoping that The Wall will keep the White Walkers north of it and away from everyone living their lives and fighting their battles south of the wall and continuing to hope/believe that those creepy icy things are just old stories from the last long winter. You might vaguelly recall from S1 the attempts to recruit men for the Night's Watch, and how they are having to scrap the dregs of the prisons to man the Wall. I suspect that lack of staffing is gonna be a really big problem.

Actually, Harrenhal is in the Riverlands, and the Eyrie is in the Vale.

ETA: Just to say that Littlefinger being Lord of Harrenhal doesn't make him a power in the North, but the Riverlands (the first thing south of the North).

I am staying up WAAAAY too late reading Twitter reactions to the Red Wedding.