Betrayal, heterophobia, and traps were everywhere on this week’s episode of Game of Thrones. All in all, it was another set up episode where we’ve been left off on cliffhangers again with just about every character, some more exciting than others. Tyrion proves his wit again, Dany’s dragons were no where to be seen again, Arya’s got sh!t for luck again, and Jon Snow continues to be punished for doing the morally right thing again. That’s not saying that this series is getting stale or repetitive, but being a book reader, I can see the reasons why they’re making the characters do or say things in relation to how they’ll act later. I’m just worried that non-book readers will be finding faults in this show that’s seemingly going no where.
I try and think back and I can’t think of how it could do any more set up than it already has. Once again, I bid each and every non-book reader to pick up a notebook to jot down names of important people and keep your people in order before it gets even more confusing than it already has. Or at least have another book reader by your side to clarify some key points, but make sure he’s not a d!ck, because he can easily spoil the entire series for you. If you haven’t been taking notes/have a book friend, consider me your book friend, as I explain key scenes for you all.
**The double asterik is a remind throughout this summary to visit this passage.
I remind you again, the creators of this show do everything for a reason, so bear with it. Scenes that are filled with nonsense drabble are actually relevant, so pay attention. Every conversation, every action, while seemingly meaningless is worth paying attention to. So bear with it now or else you’d be even more pissed down the road when things happen for no apparent reason. You’d be wrong, because the creators tried to fit in the context, but you were too ignorant to see the set up in the first place.
And as always, obvious spoilers.
Naturally we picked up where Jon Snow left off, spying on what Craster seemingly does with his sons. ‘A tribute’, Mormont says, quoting that the wildlings have crueler Gods than they do. We can only assume, that the wildlings are seeing the White Walkers as Gods based on this information, making us realize, the true enemy in the north isn’t as blindly savage as they seem, if they’re taking tributes and seeing reason between friend and foe. It’s an interesting ploy, and mix up some Samwell Tarly/Gilly chemistry, made a rather lackluster North of the Wall adventure. If you’re loathing the whole Samwell Tarly-Gilly deal…**
Back in Winterfell, we get more context of Bran and his wolf dreams. He explains fairly well the initial confusing shot where you took the perspective of someone/something people feared and it was revealed that you were indeed Bran’s Direwolf, Summer. This is relayed fairly well in addition to the follow up between Maester Luwin and Bran when they talk about how Dragons, White Walkers, and Giants no longer exist. The dramatic irony is that two of these things already exist, so why can’t the third exist? Haha.
Then we follow the adventures of Catelyn Stark, who has made way to Highgarden from Riverrun to broker an alliance between Renly Baratheon and Robb Stark. She finds them having a tourney when they’re supposedly in the middle of a war and she didn’t hesitant to remind them that. We’re introduced Brienne of Tarth the biggest woman I’ve ever seen, who’s not too shabby with a sword and Margaery Tyrell, one of the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen. Brienne wins the tourney and asks Renly to be on his Kingsguard, a spot usually reserved fr only knights. The following conversation between Renly and Catelyn is fairly fruitless, but it’s when we get back to Renly’s chamber where we get to the interesting parts.
Man on Man action, cleavage, and Jaqen H’Ghar on the Next Page
Banana Scoop 
Great review. How long does it take you to write them? Last season the Wall/Jon Snow storyline was really captivating. I agree this season it seems to be moving a bit slow but still enjoyable. I was expecting some major consequences for Jon this episode, but apparently Craster’s “secret” is known by the Night’s Watch or at least by Lord Mormont. Jon Snow is learning that sometimes he must sacrifice his moral beliefs. I expect the episodes to follow will really put him to the test. My full thoughts on this episode are on my Game of Thrones blog.
They take a particularly long time, as I essentially go through each scene and tabulate what I read in the book vs. what I saw on the screen. And I try to publish the article a day after the show airs, so it’s particularly difficult to crunch it in before the 11:00 am deadline, a mere 12 or so hours after it aired.
As for what’s to come, based on the way you talk about certain scenes, I assume that you’re a book reader. I’m surprised at your grasp on the names and places, like Lommy or Harrenhal, when they were merely mentioned once or twice. A feat only accomplished either from a person who’s paid very close attention to the series, or a book reader.