G-d, the Jon/Ygritte theme (heard at the end of Jon's appearance before Aemon, Ser Alliser, and Janos Slynt) is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I think I've ever heard.

Replacement Daario, but same Ser Dontos!

God bless the internets: [link]

That was great!

Arliss is one of us, isn't she? Now of course I can't remember the real name that goes with that pseud...

I think my single favorite moment (other than DRAGONS) from last night's ep was the Arya/Hound exchange "Lots of people name their swords." "Lots of cunts." I swear I could watch a whole show just about them.

arliss is Bev, yes.

The Hound/Arya show is awesome. The look on her face when she was following him on her own horse was priceless. Still, as badass as she was, it makes me a little wary -- I don't want Arya to become nothing more than Killer!Arya.

What did Tywin throw in the fire at the end of that first scene? It looked like a body?

The dragons were incredible, and Dany realizing that they might not be as tame as she imagined was really chilling.

I loved all of it. It was over way too quickly, too.

What did Tywin throw in the fire at the end of that first scene? It looked like a body?

The dire-wolf pelt that served as a scabbard for the big-ass Stark sword.

Oh! Gotcha.

I wish the shows I love didn't all feature such very dimly lit scenes.

arliss is Bev, yes.

Yes! Of course.

What did Tywin throw in the fire at the end of that first scene? It looked like a body?

I think it was the rest of Rob's direwolf.

Dorne! Dragons! Duncan the Tall!

That was a fantastic introduction to Team Dorne, especially the exposition on the precise nature of the bad blood between them and the Lannisters (also, oblique reference to...who is it that his sister's husband ran off with? ahem)

DUNK! My bag was about 6 inches away from being totally not at all correct for the show universe at all, as I've got the quadrants flipped from their Tarth (dammit)

Replacement Daario, but same Ser Dontos!

I like replacement Daario soooo much more.

The Hound/Arya show is awesome. The look on her face when she was following him on her own horse was priceless. Still, as badass as she was, it makes me a little wary -- I don't want Arya to become nothing more than Killer!Arya.

Yeah. As she was doing the "leg hurt?" monologue, it was like watching her humanity fade away. Not that it would be without reason, but, damn. Not being inside her head makes a huge difference in that, for me, at least.

The dragons were incredible, and Dany realizing that they might not be as tame as she imagined was really chilling.

Stealing sheep and coming close to taking her hand off? Yeah...

Other reactions:

Jaime's little hand-wave. I just...

Dammit, Tywin. You have a son who wants Casterly Rock. You have a son who would be fantastic at running Casterly Rock. Why are you insisting that the other one have it?

I liked that we didn't really see the second Lannister sword, so the other of the two swords in the title really is more Needle than not.

I may be joining Team Tyrell, which is a strange feeling. The decision to give Olenna that reaction to Brienne was the best thing ever (and Brienne's reaction. Brienne is my favorite). Also, lookit all the little Tyrellettes wearing knock offs of Maergery's dress

Shae is tryin' real hard to get herself killed. Book spoilers: I wonder if, given the changes they've made in her relationship to Tyrion, if they've decided to change how she dies.

Oh, Sansa, Sansa. You (book spoilers) suck at deciding who to trust

Fuck, yeah, Maester Aemon. Fuck. Yeah.