While we may all hope that she develops a backbone and might make a claim to her own power...ain't no evidence to back that up.

I think there's excellent evidence to show that if she did stand up for herself and try to claim power, her head would be on display in front of the castle gates next to her father's. Being a pawn right now is the smartest game she could play.

She is doing an excellent job of staying alive, which is not exactly the Stark's strong suit.

I agree. Sansa learned pretty quickly how to survive, and that's not nothing in Westeros. Her little moments of rebellion and strength are pretty quiet, but they're there -- even handing Tyrion the cup at the wedding was something a spoiled or stupid "pawn" wouldn't have done.

GRRM gave Sansa an amazing turnaround. That might be the thing I like most about the series--how snottily impractical and annoying she was at the start, and how incredibly sympathetic she is now, having had her every dream destroyed and struggling through immense emotional distress.

None of the surviving Starks have it easy, but I think she's been in the most constant danger and had the most emotional development of all of them (although Jon Snow might no longer know absolutely nothing, I put Bran second--Arya is kind of stalling with her quest for vengeance--a lot is happening to her, but I don't feel she's grown up the same way as either of them--she just started out a fan favourite).

Yay, Braavos.

Angry Tyrion is pretty fucking hard core.

I hope Tywin or someone threatened Shae. That was cold.

I do like Oberon. His conversation with Varys was very interesting.

Also, dragon! That was unexpected.

Oh, and Theon! God, that was so painful, and nerve-wracking. Rmasey is insane.

Angry Tyrion is pretty fucking hard core.

Indeed.

Bravos! Dragon! I do feel bad for the goats, but a dragon's gotta eat.

I have a lot of feels re: Theon and Tyrion.

Was that Mark Gatiss (Mycroft Holmes) as the Iron Banker?

Yep.

I'd know that voice anywhere.