Juliajms

Ugh! I see more of my teenage self than I like in Sansa. Not the "my prince will come" crap, but the taking my teenage angst out on innocent victims stuff. I agree it's going to be a long wait until season 2.

Season 2 casting news: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/19/stannis-melisandre/

Sansa is not one of my favorites by any stretch, but I do feel sorry for her. I don't think she ever wanted a crown in the way that most of the players do. Sansa isn't after power, she's a girl who was raised on fairytales. She was snotty to both her father and the Septa, but to me that's just being 15 years old. She took her father and Septa for granted and was acting out against them because of what happened with Lady. And yes, it was her own fault for lying, but she's a teenager, she had no idea how high the stakes really were in King's Landing. I loved the way the Septa tried to protect Sansa in the end. She and Syrio were so loyal. That said, I almost wish she had pushed Joff over that ledge. She would have been executed, but it would have been worth it.

The show got 13 Emmy noms: http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/07/game-of-thrones-garners-13-emmy-nominations/

Did you get all 3? That's awesome. I want one of the steins.

I'm excited about Natalie Dormer being cast. I liked her a lot in The Tudors.

Robert and Lyanna were set to be married. Rhaegar Targaryen stole her away, remember? I think that Jon is either Rhaegars child with Lyanna, or maybe the bastard son of Benjen Stark. Either way, Ned is not his father, imo. But I also wouldn't put it past GRRM to punk us all.

It is stuff that's already been on the show or more like theories.

All that could happen, or Jon could die in the next book. GRRM Martian likes to do the opposite of what people expect. The last 4 books have shown that if nothing else.

^ I wouldn't call it a rumor. There was plenty of evidence in that first season. In fact, almost all the evidence is in that first season, since Ned is dead, so I feel free to discuss it now. read no further if you don't want to hear theories on the matter. Ned has a ton of honor and the only thing that made him break in the end was his love for a child. He wouldn't even break for his own life, so I find it pretty unlikely he broke it for a woman. We know that Rhaegar Targaryen had Lyanna for months and that she died while he was off fighting Robert. Robert wanted to kill all of the Targaryen's and he made that very clear to Ned. He even wanted to kill Dany, while she was pregnant, he hates them that much. Ned looked like he was lying when he had that conversation about who Jon's mother was, so it seems pretty clear to me that he's Lyanna's with Rhaegar. In the books, it is still unknown, so that is not a spoiler. Also, Jon is still a bastard and a brother of the Night's Watch, no matter who his parent's are.

Drogo was just a catalyst for Dany to come into her own. I didn't feel especially sorry for the witch. The Dothraki destroyed her life and people, so she took some revenge on Dany. That was understandable, but she took revenge on the wrong person. She may not have lied, but she certainly didn't tell Dany the truth either. After the way she made a point of telling Dany her baby had been deformed and enjoyed it, I was ready for her to die screaming. One of the other kings you mean. Renley has declared himself King and Stannis has done the same. Everyone and his brother is a king right now, with a Queen coming their way with dragons. And as Osha keeps telling people, they are all marching the wrong way.

I think it was the witch's death ("only death pays for life") plus the fire. Remember Dany had instinctively kept the eggs near fire and put one on that brazier. Some part of her thought understood that dragons are born from fire, but she was still sort of young and innocent. She didn't know yet that life only comes through blood and pain.

Osha finally combed her hair! Thank you, God. I love that she has become part of the Stark household and is protective of Bran. Tyrion as hand of the King is going to be great. I can't wait, although part of me wishes he was safe away from that little monster. How I wish that Sansa had pushed him off that tower. Damn the hound for stopping her. I'm so glad that Sansa is getting tougher. Dany's scenes were good too. I was worried about how that scene with the dragons would come across on TV, but I thought it was good. I cannot believe Cersei is screwing Lancel. That poor boy. She'll eat him alive.

I know! This season went by so fast! I think the finale is going to be really good though.

Yes, I heard he was stabbed in a bar fight and kept on drinking.

I thought it was interesting that Varys was more worried about Stannis than he was about Robb. That means Stannis knows that he is the heir. Ned's messenger must have reached him.

That is odd. How is Ned more of a lead than Jon? I think perhaps they are going by actors experience more than relevance to the show. Even Jaime and Tyrion seem like leads to me.

Ugh. That was so harsh. Ned finally betrays his honor for Sansa and he dies anyway. My only joy is knowing that Cersei, Pyrcell and Varys were horrified at Joff's decision. You could see them flipping out and trying to change that little psychos mind all to know avail. If only Cersei knew that Robb holds Jaime, she would have been freaking out even more. I was so glad that Ned managed to tell Yoren where Arya was. I was glad Ned got to see her before she died and knew that she had a chance of being saved. God, I love Tyrion. He is my favorite character. Lord Tywin is a complete SOB, but the actor is perfect. Yeah, i think that's going to be an ongoing problem unfortunately. It's a weakness that involves time as much as money I think. I liked the way that Maester Aemon was revelaed to be a Targaryen. I felt bad for Dany tonight. She is really screwed.

I think having read the books is sort of a disadvantage. It makes it harder for me to judge the episodes on their own merits because I have so much background info. I've read the books twice because there was so much time in between that I needed a refresher, so I pretty much know the story in and out. I wish I could see this with "fresh eyes". I think the next two episodes should be pretty exciting.

Interview with Sophie Turner (Sansa). http://www.tvguide.c...er-1034079.aspx Also short article on Sean Bean talking about Ned. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118038108/

He does. I'm pretty sure he started out in TV, although I can't remember what it is he's done. I know that old show Beauty and the Beast, but he's done more recent and famous shows too. It's slipped my mind, which ones. For me, this was the best written episode, but I think that's because I know the books. So I know that he wasn't wasting my time with characters that are ultimately unimportant (Roz) and annoying "sexposition" scenes. I feel sorry for Sansa. She can't see through Cersei at all.

There are 2 more episodes left. Poor Sansa begging mercy for her father. Cersei is such a bitch. I felt bad for the Septa too. Both she and Syrio sacrificed themselves for the girls. Tyrion's scenes were good as always. Glad he is getting Lysa back by arming the clans of the vale. It just figures that he has to fight in the upcoming battle. I hope Bronn sticks close by him.

Episode 8 preview: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=6AoQQjkL2gc Also tyrion preview:

I'm glad the team is back in order. Criminal Minds is one of the few procedures I follow.

Well, HBO did have a linguist come in and create a Dothraki language, so it's not completely gibberish. I agree though, Robert's did a good job of pissing Drogo off, and the hoard he was so worried about is headed for his kingdom. Just figures he died and left the problems to others.