Yeah, it's a really weak justification. Occasionally a lawyer does get famous in a political context (Ken Starr, for example. Archibald Cox from Watergate, for another), but I can't see it being nearly enough for a presidential bid, particularly not one backed by one of the major parties. Taft's nomination was a…

"isn't enough stupid mindless fun" sums up the problems I have with the show pretty well. It's too serious/takes itself too seriously to be guilt-free/stupid fun for me and it's too stupid to be a genuinely good show.

All those disasters probably improved Los Angeles as a metropolitan area

Tywin has had a massive blind spot about so many things related to his children for his entire life.

Not really surprising after the Hound accuses Brienne of being a Lannister (wo)man and Brienne's only real counter is that she (supposedly) swore an oath to Catelyn, which isn't likely to impress Arya.

Brienne and Arya talking was sad…you could tell Arya was excited to meet a woman that could have been her role model or friend in a different universe.

My point is that inserting Sam and Jon talking about where to put it in episode 3 would have annoyed viewers wondering why we were spending time on the kind of gallows humor and camraderie you'd expect from people facing imminent death and done less for Jon, especially, in terms of building him up as a fighter/leader.

Which is probably why they've said several times that this season will have several episode 9s and that the season finale would not be as quiet as the past ones have been (in fact, it might well be the most momentous episode of the entire series).

It could have but

The finale has 10-15 more minutes to play with, so I don't see how that's a real issue.

I like him in the books for that reason - he may be an asshole but he's an asshole that's still fighting for the Watch. I think it was actually a great episode for him as a supporting character going forward.

Showing up after Jon treats with Mance, like in the books.

By having the show's Battle at Castle Black structured the way it is in the books? Jon has to treat with Mance (which requires some conversation about the wildlings fleeing the White Walkers/Others), so why would you want to cram Stannis' crowning moment into the very end of an episode where people would say "hey he's…

It's structured this way in the books, so I'm not seeing the problem. Would you really want to cram treating with Mance and then Stannis' charge into 4-5 minutes?

Three points.

I really really doubt they'll cut that - it's one of the most popular scenes from the book and is exactly the kind of scene (of two/a small group of people talking) that the show likes to use and is really good at using.

"Go fetch me my quill and parchment"

As a long time employee of the banking industry, I approve of this and all things Iron Bank-related.

Being familiar with people fighting dirty is not the same as actually being able to deal with someone fighting dirty, particularly a skilled opponent in a context where he has the advantage. You wouldn't expect someone like Jon to do well against someone fighting in their element. I don't mean it as "Jon is a nobleman…

Getting beaten in a fight by someone like Karl who's really skilled (and is a dirty/unorthodox fighter to boot) doesn't make Jon a shitty fighter.