@avclub-825ada08204841b3968f25b4c6f7ebfb:disqus Now who's going to cut that together on a 10 minute loop scored to Beethoven?

Sending Theon back to the Greyjoys definitely feels like a massive mistake. Balon would have probably rebelled anyway, but Winterfell may not have fallen (unless Roose still ended up rebelling and sieging and taking it anyway).

Plot-mechanically/plot-function-wise, Storm's End is unimportant thus far. Its only purpose is that the castellan is holding out because he's got Robert's bastard in there. So that means the Storm's End plotline is only as important as Edric Storm, which is an unknown quantity thus far.

MINOR AFFC SPOILER

VAGUE BOOK 3 SPOILERS

I was wondering that too, but it makes sense to leave him out for a while so as not to clutter the field with characters.

BOOK 5 SPOILERS

I think Lorch was blathering something about how Yoren treated the goldcloaks.

That silly mushroom hairdo with a rat-tail down the back from previous episodes was doing her no favo(u)rs.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of
a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Totally agree in regard to the portrayal of both Renly and Loras. Plus Loras looks a little too willowy and non-athletic to be really believable as an excellent swordsman/combatant.

I totally identify with your response, @avclub-9ff7c9eb9d37f434db778f59178012da:disqus , but I clicked through the possibilities and figured out why they made that decision much quicker, so I wasn't bugged by it for as long.

It externalized his divided loyalties, since we don't get the benefit of close third person narration.

@avclub-1beee9fdd7f132dc2f36c09ae265122c:disqus SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 3 AND LATER

@avclub-c305906bce98a870409f20115c7cd4e7:disqus - I don't think Stannis truly hates Robert, he just couldn't ever forgive him for not giving him his due - Storm's End and the Baratheon holdings, IIRC. Stannis always hold grudges when it comes to not being rendered up what he believes is rightfully his.

Yeah, ultimately when it comes to plot function and essential character development, you're right. But the cut scenes allow for two things: for us to see the effect of the war on the smallfolk, and to forge Arya into a pitiless hate-machine. I wonder if they're going to shift some of it to Harrenhal.

When they intro'd the new Shae in Season 1, I was suspicious but excited, thinking that they were setting up for a departure from the books with that character. I don't see any of that so far. Plus, Show Shae doesn't seem that likeable.

I think I heard they're submitting again as supporting actor, since it's an ensemble cast.

I read a lot of your responses to people here, and ultimately I agree with you. Initially I was frustrated by what felt like your dismissal of objections like mine, but in the end I think we agree more than we don't.

I found Bored To Death problematic for exactly the reasons you refer to.