Killing that kid was horrible and definitely the start of the show's assassination of Jaime's character and I complained about that change too during that season. But it's another example of the Lannister's ruthless pragmatism that Jaime shares with every member of his family. Jaime wasn't particulary safe as a…

If you saw any consent in that scene, I'm really worried for you/your partners.

The idea that the show would simply gloss over the rape and pretty much pretend it's nothing more than another quarrel is exactly _why_ people were upset last week. If anything, people who complained, now feel justified in their suspicions that the show would trivalize the issue.

The main draw of the show? Speak for yourself. It obviously isn't for the countless people who keep complaining about it.

I don't think this little detour to Craster's Keep will have great long-term plot ramifications. Bran and Co. will escape before Jon arrives (probably using some inspired warging - maybe this will be the first time we see Bran warg a person instead of an animal?); Jon and Co. will find everyone massacred by White…

Most reviews I've read so far point out how iffy it would have been if Marg had gone there.

I do think it's a bit suspicious that they call themselves Birdwatchers and the evil scientists named their project "Leda"…. clearly, there's some swan in this equation.

Exactly. No pay-offs without set-ups. I actually feel the show is almost too breathless as it is, with all these plot twists in short succession - I wouldn't even mind an actual filler episode to explore a status quo before it gets shaken up by the next twist.

"Yet, is a warrior culture as advanced as an agricultural based one?"

I still think you're projecting. Crucifications among Christians might not have been an everyday occurence, but neither were Blood Eagles among Vikings. In the absence of more sophisticated forms of entertainment, everyone apparently likes a good public execution; seems to be a bit of an anthropological constant. Why…

I thought it was a young Mel Gibson.

To some people, "Athelstan's back" was the climax of this season.

I don't think Ragnar left the baby to die in the last episode when he refrained from kiling it on the spot - I think he was fairly aware that Aslaug would come to retrieve her child - or that there would be at least a high chance that she would do so. He mostly does it to deflect responsiblity for the choice to keep…

I do think Aslaug warming up to Lagertha was a strategical decision at first, but it well might be genuine by now. Fake it till you make it works in all kinds of directions.

I think both Vikings and GOT could handle the issue better.

Well, horny princess is also potentially traumatized rape survivor, so…..

I see now my reply was based on a misunderstanding of yours and that other person's comment - it seems like we all agree that the show is pretty good at not taking sides and leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions and are all just baffled at the conclusions others seem to draw.

(Okay, that was an uncharitable reading of the person up-thread. They complain about the reviewers, not the show. Still, I don't see it. I don't feel like the reviews gloss over the things I've mentionned in my previous comment.)

Last episode there was a strong suggestion that those soldiers in the sub-marine died because the Russians skimped on research and development - that sounds like an indicitment of a flawed system to me.

By pointing out how a-political this show mostly is and how the KGB-agents are grappling with the monstrosity of their actions?