So nice to see Gorman, even if it seems like it's destined to be a short-lived character! Nice to see the plot going slightly off the book-rails.

Does anybody want to whitefont me who Locke is (I've read the books, but the name means nothing right now)?

It's not a book-character, Theo - he's Roose Bolton's man.

He's sort of a stand in for Vargo Hoat, without the lisp. And a simplified backstory.

He's also the one who cut off Jamie's hand.

Wow, so many book diversions!

I love love LOVE Pod being sent off with Brienne. That was a stroke of genius, show!

This is the part in the books where there start to be waaaaaaay too many disconnected storylines because every B and C-level character gets spun off on their own little quest. Nice to see the show changing things up so people can actually interact with each other. (No offense to GRRM, but I much prefer Bran captured by Craster and things happening to him and maybe seeing Jon again to Bran wandering around the North learning to be a warg.)

Locke was sent to the Wall to kill Jon Snow for Roose Bolton, right? When he was explaining why he was there it took me a while to remember the actual reason.

"Marrying a Targaryen was all the rage back then" Bwah.

Also, I'm really glad I watched this first, and Mad Men second. I don't think it's spoilery to say that this week's Mad Men contained significantly less rape and child-sacrifice than this week's GoT.

I thought Locke was sent north to retrieve Bran and Rickon?

I don't think it's spoilery to say that this week's Mad Men contained significantly less rape and child-sacrifice than this week's GoT.

Speaking as someone who has not watched Mad Men yet: what a relief!

Theon told Bolton that Bran and Rickon might be heading for Jon Snow on the Wall, and Bolton said Jon might also be a threat. I think Locke is supposed to take care of all of that as best he can, but I don't think explicit orders were given.

I think Locke is supposed to take care of all of that as best he can, but I don't think explicit orders were given.

Right. I remember now.

My home nurse, an Iranian woman in her 50s, is big on GoT, I've just recently learnt. Problem is, I'm shit at talking about it--many of the details just wash over me, and I revel in feels. But she wants to TALK. And she's looking for someone who knows more than she does to shore up her knowledge, which is putting pressure on me, because I'm used to being that person for any TV show I watch.

It's like having a fandom conversation with my mother (she'd hate to hear that--she's closer in age to me than Mummy), but goes to show about its penetration.

No, we didn't talk about the rape.