1. I'm glad Gleeson sees Joffrey the same way I do. His corny line tonight about Stannis' smile is similar to Commodis play fighting with paid actors and pretending to be sorrowful at missing war. The character archetype is my personal favorite because it forces you as the viewer to understand rather than judge. We know Joffrey's comeuppance is coming and we are all going to cheer because that's what we do. But I won't cheer. I'll be upset because his mother should pay for his sins much like Marcus Aurelius paid for his.
2. Typical HBO build up episode. The anticipation is at it's precipice and next weeks episode is going to be legendary. I'm talking last 30 minutes of Two Towers stuff.
3. If o have one criticism of Season 2 it's that they are forced to drag Dany and Jon Snow's stories out. These characters are ones whose spotlight is coming later on but they don't want you to forget about them. It's not their faults persay, the television audience can barely sustain multiple arcs without losing themselves so it serves as a drawback to something readers of fantasy novels have come to expect.
Authors have a higher respect for their readers but readers return the favor by deserving it.
3. Lastly, even in a build up episode Game managed convey a message. Don't die so far from home. It was Yara's message to Theon but it worked for everyone. Jon Snow and his captain literally dying so far from a home which ironically was once theirs. Robb Stark so far from the home he wants both literally and Choice wise. Dany and Jorah so far from where they want to live Varys and Tyrion so afraid of Losing their earned power in a fight of fists so far home from their battle of wits.
There's Ros the whore, Jaime and The Big Girl, Caitlyn Stark, Arya and her peeps, everyone is farm from home, in either form or spirit, and trying to get back.
--
Realo won gold at the Sex Olympics with a BROKEN FRIGGIN NECK.-Voltch