Very thought-provoking. One of the debates that happens repeatedly between leaders and their lieutenants is how humane or ruthless to be. Theon and Cleftjaw-Finchy. Stannis and Davos: "Clean methods don't win wars." Robb and Roose Bolton (and other bannermen) over torture/flaying and the treatment of prisoners. Tyrion…

Great scene. I'm finding TV Shae much more sympathetic than book Shae. Dinklage is awesome.

Great scene. I'm finding TV Shae much more sympathetic than book Shae. Dinklage is awesome.

Yeah he even looks like a stereotypical Northerner. Also where's Umber?

Yeah he even looks like a stereotypical Northerner. Also where's Umber?

But he he gave that nice gushing speech a couple of episodes back about the fact that a ruler like Dany only comes around once in a few centuries. He said she's like how her brother Rhaegar was and the people loved Rhaegar. Not only that, she has dragons which are like WMDs (see Harrenhal.)

But he he gave that nice gushing speech a couple of episodes back about the fact that a ruler like Dany only comes around once in a few centuries. He said she's like how her brother Rhaegar was and the people loved Rhaegar. Not only that, she has dragons which are like WMDs (see Harrenhal.)

Puritanism, paraphrasing Mencken, is the sneaking suspicion that someone, somewhere, is having a good time.

Puritanism, paraphrasing Mencken, is the sneaking suspicion that someone, somewhere, is having a good time.

Yeah I thought it was funny.

In the first season, Selmy and Ned talk on the tourney grounds and Ned tells Selmy he's glad they didn't meet on the battlefield and that his father said Selmy was the best. Selmy responded that he was being too modest and that he saw Ned "cut down a dozen great knights."

In the first season, Selmy and Ned talk on the tourney grounds and Ned tells Selmy he's glad they didn't meet on the battlefield and that his father said Selmy was the best. Selmy responded that he was being too modest and that he saw Ned "cut down a dozen great knights."

Good call. I got chills reading those lines in the book. They found the dragonglass for Sam to use.

Good call. I got chills reading those lines in the book. They found the dragonglass for Sam to use.

Sam, Grenn and Dolorous Edd were digging latrines. Dolorous Edd digging a latrine at the end of the world is about as low as you can go.

Sam, Grenn and Dolorous Edd were digging latrines. Dolorous Edd digging a latrine at the end of the world is about as low as you can go.

Toby Kebbell as Oberyn. Please.

Toby Kebbell as Oberyn. Please.

The episode was an A for me. The calm before the storm.  I just love the many characters and great actors.

The episode was an A for me. The calm before the storm.  I just love the many characters and great actors.