SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from this episode of Game of Thrones.

Didn’t you love the scene between Cersei and Margaery?  Not only did we learn the cautionary tale of the Rains of Castamere (a long-dead/upstart noble family that rivaled the Lannisters), more was revealed about these two wonderful/layered/complex characters.  (Check out a fun tee for ladies who love Margaery and her machinations: Blossom Queen T-shirt.)

I thought that Sansa handled herself with class during a very tough situation, which happened to be her wedding.  Joffrey was more horrid (than usual), esp. after the ceremony.  UGH, I can’t wait until something horrible happens to him!  (The music seemed funereal, but not overly so, in this whole section.)

Since Joff took away the step stool, Tyrion (looking so forlorn) had to ask Sansa to bend down during the cloaking.  Notice how one glare from Tywin hushed up the guests?  We know who’s really in charge!

Tywin (who doesn’t change his dark clothes) is disgusted once again by his son’s behavior.  He expounds on duty, telling Tyrion that he must have a child with Sansa ASAP.  But when Tyrion lashes out at Joff (a no-no), Tywin calmly comes to his son’s aid.  This scene was very well done! 

After the wedding, Sansa and Tyrion go off to his chamber.  Tyrion admires and comments upon her long neck.  He’s shocked to learn that she’s only 14 (though Sophie Turner is actually 17).  He decides that he doesn’t want to be with her until she agrees.  Peter Dinklage- what MORE can we say about his talents!? 

Arya tries to bash in his head w/ a rock, but The Hound is actually trying to help her.  He tells her that he’s taking her to The Twins (where her uncle will soon be wed to one of the Frey girls) and not to King’s Landing.

Finally, we get to see Ser Davos (how I missed him)!  I love how he’s learning to read, too.  Stannis, who (deep down) doesn’t want to see his kin dead, goes to get Davos’ opinion.  Melisandre wanted to kill the young blacksmith- a sacrifice to The Lord of Light.  The Onion Knight talks freely w/ his lord, unafraid of the consequences.  Stannis listens to Davos, as he respects and trusts him. 

The Mel and Gendry seduction scene was also very well done.  (I liked Joe Dempsie’s low-key approach.)  Gendry is the ordinary man put into a very weird situation b/c of his parentage.   I was quite worried for Gendry for a minute there! 

Dany’s story takes an interesting turn- she meets three leaders of The Second Sons, who command 2,000 skilled sellswords.  One of the finest warriors, Daario Naharis (Ed Skrein), is young, handsome, and very confident.  Later that night, he presents her w/ the heads of the two leaders who wanted her dead.  Instead of killing her, he pledges himself to Dany.   (This actor’s looks and demeanor remind me of Jonathan Rhys Myers.)  Dany gets out of the bathtub and reveals herself to him fully.  This is a power move, not only a show of romantic interest. 

SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the latest episode of Game of Thrones.   

People work together when it suits them.  They’re loyal when it suits them.  Love each other when it suits them.  And they kill each other when it suits them.  She knows it, you don’t.  Which is why you’ll never hold onto her.  –Orell

You’re mine, as I’m yours. And if we die, we die. But first we’ll live.  –Ygritte

Wow, I can’t believe that there are only 3 eps left!  I enjoyed seeing the interactions between Jon and Ygritte- they can be a fun couple.  Rose Leslie can pull off comedy quite well, we see.  Kit Harington seems to be more comfortable (acting well after several lukewarm eps.)  

Osha (who’s still suspicious of Jojen) and Hodor have a funny little moment.  Then she tells Bran and the Reeds how she lost her “man” (husband, we assume).  He was very good and loyal, but disappeared suddenly one night.  He became a Whitewalker and tried to kill her, so  she stabbed him and burned their hut down.  Natalia Tena (who’s known mainly a singer) continues to shine in her role! 

Robb, his family, and loyal men are on their way to The Twins for the wedding of Edmure to one of the Frey girls.  There is a thunderstorm that’s slowing them down.  Robb and Talisa are still crazy about each other; we get to see more of them (and it’s done in a tasteful manner).  “A little prince of princess” is in their future, Talisa reveals while she writes a letter to her mother (in Valyrian).  

While on the way to Dragonstone (Stannis’ place), Melisandre slowly reveals to Gendry that he’s the son of King Robert Baratheon.  The camera focuses in on Gendry’s surprised blue-gray eyes, bringing to mind those of actor Mark Addy (who played Robert).  The thick, dark brown wig on Joe Dempsie reminds us of Robert’s dark hair.  Also, I noticed that “The Kingsroad” theme was playing softly.  CGI was used effectively to show the destruction (broken ships, burned structures) around King’s Landing.  And Clarice Van Houten- talk about screen presence! 

Many viewers were happy to see the dragons- getting big fast!  “Breaker of chains” has been added to the long list of Dany’s titles- very cool.  She’s still on Slaver’s Bay, this time at the gates of Yunkai.  Jorah points out that these are a proud sort of people, who will not surrender easily. 

Their leader brings the khaleesi 2 chests of gold, but refuses to free the slaves, as she commands.  The dragons are not happy to see their “mother” threatened.  Emilia Clarke plays this scene extremely well.

You are being counseled right now.  -Tywin

The scene between Tywin and Joffrey is very well constructed, both cinematically and in terms of dialogue.  The door to the throne room opens and Tywin has to make a long walk to the base of the Iron Throne.  He glances (perhaps with disgust?) at the huge, blazing torches on either side of the room.  Joffrey is wondering what’s up w/ The Small Council, which has been meeting adjacent to The Hand’s chambers.  Tywin, aside from Cersei, is the only one who has climbed up the stairs to stand beside the Iron Throne.  (Notice how Tywin looms large over Joffrey?  The king looks a bit uncertain/uncomfortable as his grandpa approaches closer.)  I loved the way that Charles Dance said “we can arrange to have you carried” when the king commented the numerous stairs up to The Tower of the Hand.  Joffrey (finally) has some good points; he’s worried about the Targaryens and their dragons.  Tywin says that he shouldn’t worry about such “ancient” matters.

There can be no doubt what happened to Theon at the end of his scene!  Alfie Allen shows us just how powerless Theon is in the hands of his sadistic captor.  

My son will be king.  Sons learn from their mothers.  I plan to teach mine a great deal. 

 Most women don’t know what they like until they’ve tried it. And sadly so many of us get to try so little before we’re old and gray.

–Margaery

There is another fine scene with Margaery and Sansa; they discuss their respective futures.  Sansa is very apprehensive about having to marry Tyrion, as he’s a Lannister (one of her captors) and a dwarf.  Margaery asks her if he’s ever been cruel to her.  “No,” Sansa responds.  “He’s not the worst Lannister- by far,” Margaery says.  (Very true!)   “He’s quite handsome, especially with that scar,” she comments.  Women like them have to make the best of their situations.  Innocent, young Sansa doesn’t quite understand all she’s hearing, as she’s lived a sheltered existence. 

Tyrion and Shae have their break-up scene.  (Thank goodness!)  I didn’t like Sibel Kekilli’s acting, aside from a few scenes.  Peter Dinklage needs a better romantic interest to match his skills.

After the ride away from Harrenhal, Jaime and ex-master Qyburn (veteran British actor, Anton Lesser) have a fine scene where they discuss how many people they’ve killed and saved.  Qyburn was stripped of his title because he experimented on dead/dying people.  Jaime saved 500,000 people (“the population of King’s Landing”) when he killed Aerys (“The Mad King”) as a young knight.

And then we have the bear scene- WOW! I knew Jaime would go back to save Brienne.  Jaime (who’s a more important prisoner, after all) jumps into the pit to save Brienne (who was being humiliated/tortured by Locke).  They manage to climb out of the pit, with the aid of one of Bolton’s young/burly men.  Jaime tells Locke how it’s going to be- what an unlikely hero…  Nikolaj Coster-Waldau continues to impress me with each new ep!