The Cersei scene was still enjoyable because it showed how she went from 100 to 0 real quick. So disheveled even though seemingly only a day had passed (Jorah and Tywin yet to be brought before court; Sam still smarting).

I hope Tywin gave his hookup for melting Valyrian steel to someone before biting it—or at least wrote that guy's address down somewhere. Maybe he could turn it into a powder and lightly dust thousands of weapons with a coating. Brienne's isn't seeing much action lately.

That comment is problematic.

That look and exasperated sigh at the end—you just know, you know he's thinking of the Summer Isles or something.

Oh I meant preconceptions prior to even starting the pilot. Any reservations I had evaporated within probably the first 15 minutes.

I've started watching Hannibal because of all the mentions on here and it is spectacular. I had the hardest time getting over my preconceptions—'ugh, it's a procedural, it's on NBC, it's part of a franchise trending downward in quality, it's a prequel, it's just going for shock value'—but wow.

How has no one mentioned the legendary Trans X song of the same name? God, I feel old.

I, uhh, am also a critic. Where do I sign up?

Hi, Son!

Last I remember Roose de-bastardized him and they had a Lion King moment gazing out at The North.

The worst part is that TV programs seem to keep stretching how deep into an episode they'll pop-up that text announcing appearances. I saw one past the quarter-hour mark a few weeks ago for one show.

I only know him as Assad from 24 and as the prince from Syriana whom Matt Damon tells off in the desert as he (did? performed? practiced?) falconry. Great actor though.

Stannis needs some embedded journalists. If he was smart, he'd have spread the news and we'd have heard chatter around Westeros and Essos about his staving off the Wildling army.

And the business of the lesser-known house motto of the Starks: "We're here to chew bubblegum and execute Night's Watch deserters. And we're all out of bubblegum." So he'd have that legitimacy problem.

"There is no word in Dothraki for 'extrajudicial killing', Khaleesi. Let this man go."

For being the good soldier, Thorne's PAC probably secretly assured him of a cushier castle posting near the sea.

So how is everyone reading that scene? Was it meant to showcase Drogon as also ultimately having Dany's back, as a postscript to Grey Worm and Ser Barristan earlier saying "we all stand guard at your door tonight"? Or was Drogon's last-second flyaway—before letting her touch him—showing that he still can't be…

I can take meditative for this, as long as they don't veer into the ponderous or ruminative.

Thus spoke Zathura's foreign box office.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, only current or former governors of states medium-sized or larger should helm big-budget action franchises. Who do you want taking the 3:00 AM phone call?