So Cersei is pretty clearly the one paying for this, right?

She's more into men she can swear fealty to.

"Soon, Tommen went to Margaery's to try to win her back. But the High Sparrow told him that Margaery had moved in with her boyfriend. He also mentioned that we all only had three more weeks on Westeros, and that fossils were just something the Red Priests buried in 1924."

That's exactly what I was thinking during that scene. Man, that guy just loves flaying things.

Littlefinger doin' shit
Dany doin' shit
Sansa and Jon doin' shit
Everyone doin' shit

I'm pretty sure that, following his role in orchestrating the Tyrell-Baratheon alliance, Baelish was granted a lordship in Harrenhaal as well as nominal control over the Riverlands.

I just realized that all five of the kings from The War of Five Kings are now dead: Renly Baratheon, Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy.

Not sure what you want from a review if you don't want critics to "impose their ideas on the story." Simple plot regurgitation?

There are a few things in their favor:

Well, Baelish controls the Riverlands, so they don't have much of an army. We haven't had any real indication that they've ever been powerful; they just retain control over an important geographic site and can help orchestrate unexpected massacres with sufficient planning and help by Tywin Lannister.

But Renly was, as Stannis claimed, a usurper. He had no legitimate claim to the throne. His killing can be easily justified.

Counterpoint: Jaime Lannister has always been a more interesting character than Jon Snow.

I don't think that's clear at all. My interpretation was that Ghost sensed some change in Jon and got excited about the prospect of his return. That seems the most parsimonious answer, at least.

Isn't Stannis still alive in the books? If so, then the Melisandre angle alone changes things pretty dramatically.

Does anybody else get a slightly Bernie Sanders vibe from the High Sparrow?

Well, Davos never actually witnessed Stannis's most terrible acts. Does he KNOW Stannis killed his daughter? It's never revealed to him on the show; for all he knows, Shireen was just an unlucky casualty. If he indeed knows Shireen's ultimate fate, he's being surprisingly friendly with Melisandre.

Wow, someone's excited about Hodor.

I like how they also made it immediately clear that Lyanna is going to be a major player. Promising to show what exactly went down with her, Rhaegar Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, and Ned Stark.

Right. I mean, Ramsay wants to go up north to off Jon Snow and Roose shoots him down. Seems like Ramsay might now go up north to off Jon Snow and thereby accelerate Melisandre's vision of Jon Snow reigning at Winterfell?

Dogs seemed much hungrier this episode than last.