And the closed captions.

Also known as the TAGWIRRBTFAACBAIJPAM. X-)

I think it's safe to say that Arya's wine tasting raised the average IQ in Westeros significantly.

I've always taken the '99 Red Nose Special as canon, so this is no big deal.

Same as before: "Newbies" blame the show runners for crap GRRM did, "experts" blame the ones responsible.

It's a decent insurance in a way.
Doesn't work to well in politics, though, as we can witness these days.

Why, oh why?
I recently tried to watch live action Beauty and the Beast, and couldn't get past the first musical number, though I love both the cartoon version and Emma Watson.

Exactly.
The "Medium Place" is a throwback to the first episode when Eleanor said (paraphrased) "I'm a medium person and should be in a "Medium Place"".
Making her think such a place actually existed added another level to her torture.

We've been had.
Nicely done, show!

Yeah, Martin evidently has his strengths, but the mastery of timing and interlocking isn't one of them.
This just seems more obvious in the TV show than in the books.

Oh, boy, what a neverending fustercluck.
If Putin's plan was to completely fuck over and discredit the US political system, he succeeded.

Most importantly:
Will the AV Club GoT dead pool be back?

I fail to see much wrong with that.

I don't think there'll be much on an Iron Throne in the end.
As for ruling the seven kingdoms, I'd go with a Jon/Dany/Tyrion joint rule (3 heads of the dragon or whatever).

Two words:
GCI budget. :(

She's hot, like, literally burning.

I'm pretty sure I saw some whiskers when Ser Robert Strong removed his helmet.

I feel for the writers; Arya had to be put in a holding pattern until the rest of the storylines cought up, but being a fan favourite (and rightly so) they couldn't just leave her out for an entire season as they did with Bran.
So we got some good stuff and a lot of nonsensesial filler.

Ah, thanks.
I'm not too familiar with Ryan (not being an US citizen), but at a passing glance the US could do worse I guess.

The comics may be entertaining (if you're twelve), but not much of them would actually work on screen beyond the basic premise.