Cercei's line about how there isn't a place in the world that doesn't hurt little girls was painful. And also, kind of a theme for this episode, since, as DebetEsse pointed out to me, we checked in with pretty much all of the "little girl" characters in this episode -- Arya, Meera, and Sansa all got significant screen time and plot bits, and we heard more about Myrcella than we have in a while.

as DebetEsse pointed out to me, we checked in with pretty much all of the "little girl" characters in this episode -- Arya, Meera, and Sansa all got significant screen time

Oh, nice catch.

So, that was a whole lot of "not in the books" but I think that it all moved characters' arcs along nicely.

I liked Bran making the choice to continue his quest even when he had another option. I like that the show is calling out the ickiness of him warging Hodor (edited to fix autocorrect all over the place). It seems like that's gonna come back on him at some point. I was seriously afraid for the survival of either/both of the Reeds, as well as Hodor.

Jon got to kick some ass, show leadership skills, and get his wolf back. Too bad the effects budget couldn't support more interaction between Jon and Ghost.

And I'm rather glad to see the end of Locke.

Danny's going for her "Ruling" badge. It's a shame none of her advisors have much experience there. My brother was pointing out that there are (I'm going to call thing a book spoiler, but more by implication than anything explicit) few and fewer people left in Westeros who know how to fight a war competently. We still have some who can plan battles, but the players of the chess game find their numbers rapidly dwindling. I think the same could be said for ruling.

Lovely scene with Cersei and Margaery (and the decision to NOT dispense with pretense). And the observation that Tommen might be the first deserving king in 50 years, which is an interesting thing to say. In the books, he's too young for us to make that call, I think, so that will be another one where I look forward to see it play out. Also lovely were the Cersei-Oberyn and Cersei-Tywin scenes. I am looking forward to upcoming developments in Kings Landing.

Poor Sansa. She doesn't even get a week in the Aeyrie before the crazy comes out to play. Is Robin the same kid? If not, I'd have gone younger with that casting. Sansa, much like Cersei, is in some serious need of allies. Sadly, she is even less equipped for it than Cersei.

Further, fuck you, Petyr Baelish. You need to die painfully.

Oh, Arya, honey. I do hope that honor gets some of its own back eventually. We had three scenes in the past two eps about the value of fighting dirty. Anyone else find the (book spoily implications) S differentiation between Sandor and The Hound brought to mind?

I want to know who in the writing team realized that Pod would have fuckall in the way of knight-in-the-field support skills. That was fantastic. I think I am going to enjoy the Pod and Brienne Show, as well as all the fic where she gives Jaime shit for sending her off with a crappy squire. I will enjoy that a lot.

The wolves confused me -- I thought I heard Bran saying they had to release Summer. Were both wolves there? Because we never saw Bran with his, just the one Jon said hello to. (I know it doesn't matter that much, but I love the wolves.)

I like that the show is calling out the iciness of him warning Hodor.

I'm not sure I understand you here -- how is warning Hodor icy? And did he essentially do with Hodor what he can do with his wolf?

Were both wolves there?

Yes. Summer went to go investigate when he heard Ghost, and then fell in the hole.

I'm not sure I understand you here

Yeah, that's because I meant "icky" Stupid touchscreen. Fixing.

And did he essentially do with Hodor what he can do with his wolf?

Yes. "warging" is the term commonly used, which apparently autocorrect is not familiar with. Stupid autocorrect.

Impassable mountains - useful defense against dragons?

I'm betting "no" because flying.

Ah! Autocorrect strikes again.

Some of the scenes are so dark, it's hard for me to see what's going on. (I said the same thing about Hannibal.) Maybe should I adjust the settings on my screen.

Is Robin the same kid? If not, I'd have gone younger with that casting.

It is the same kid, and I actually think Robin is the one character where having a slightly too old actor works really well. Creeptastic.

I'm betting "no" because flying.

And if the Targaryens hadn't conquered the Vale once already (with dragons), they wouldn't be part of the Seven Kingdoms.

apparently Peter has been plotting stuff a lot longer than anyone knew.

I missed what Lysa said Peter had asked her to do. Could someone fill me in?

He had her poison her husband (the Hand of the King that Ned went to investigate), if I understood correctly.

He had her poison him, AND had her write to Catelyn telling her that she suspected the Lannisters -- if she hadn't written to Catelyn, then Ned wouldn't have had anything to investigate.