Vee

I feel a kind of sympathy and understanding for Cersei, and it's clear the show is deeply fascinated with her as I am - but I don't think she was ever trying to help any one of the Starks. Sansa was easy for her to bully as her life continued to fall apart.

I don't remember Cersei ever trying to help Sansa, I just remember her tormenting her. She went with the match with the Tyrells after Blackwater because it was what everyone wanted, not to try and spare Sansa a life with Joffrey - she didn't learn to fear Margaery until later on. I don't remember her ever being kind to the girl, just taking her own deep frustrations with her life's path out on her instead because Sansa was vulnerable. After the Blackwater, she had had her fill of grinding down the weaker young girl and tossed her aside.

I only realized after the fact that Cersei was actually, potentially working each of the judges for Tyrion's trial - Mace Tyrell through Margaery ("speak to your father" about the marriage) and then the other two. But while that was clearly one motive, I choose to take her candor with each of them to also be a rare measure of honesty from her in a time of need. Because while she wants Tyrion dead for her own foolish, hateful reasons, she is also in an impossible position and has to bend the knee to each of them to go forward. If she didn't do that, Cersei would be as stupid as I've sometimes taken her for. A fascinating character, a tragic and complicated one, but often very foolish. I hope she is finally learning from some of her mistakes. Besides, Lena Headey was incredible in each of those scenes. As to your theory, it's certainly possible Cersei could do that, but I don't see what the point would be to slamming the Tyrells beyond rash, personal hatred - as Tywin said, they desperately need House Tyrell to survive. Growing Strong, bitches! On another note, Michelle Fairley should shortly be on the new 24 miniseries on Fox, which I am enjoying - she is playing a British arms dealer, in a role she took over from Judy Davis. I'm really looking forward to see her get her villainy on.

Oh, I definitely didn't want Meera raped. And I was glad it didn't go there. But introducing the jeopardy at all, I think, is real - it was done with Sansa too a few years ago, and both of them escaped.

Carver didn't do it like Herc!

Seth Gilliam was one of my favorite performers with one of my most favorite characters on The Wire - and I said that about both Chad Coleman and Larry Gilliard too, but it's especially true of SG. They were all fantastic on the show. And I am so glad to see my Carver again.

Isaac Hempstead-Wright would like to talk to you about warging. Also, TPTB about why they ignore the Internet (and rightly [!@#$%^&*] so, IMO).

I love that crazy Robin kid. Same one, too, he's gotten a lot bigger. I don't know that Margaery is underestimating Cersei, frankly. But Cersei did what she had to do, which was make the inroads I did not think her ego and paranoia left her capable of making. Margaery did get an dig in at the end, but I thought she was pretty straight with Cersei otherwise when she realized the Queen Regent was doing the same - or as straight as Margaery can be about her motives in her position.

Also nice to see in the preview:

I don't know what you expected those horrible dudes to have done with Meera. I was terrified for her - absolutely terrified - but that's what happens. (That's also the lovely agony of what happens whenever you catch up to a show you've been binge-watching, like this or TWD - eventually the now is just the now, and exhilaratingly no one is safe anymore.) And anyway, they didn't get around to doing anything to her, thanks to Jon and the Night's Watch. Every time I think I am just about beyond over Cersei and her nonsense they give her more wonderful, layered scenes with surprising people. Case in point, that amazing, candid conversation with Cersei and Margaery - I didn't know Cersei was capable of that kind of open reflection with someone she had classed an enemy, even if part of it may have been a feint on her end. At least some of what she said - about Joffrey, about Tommen - was absolutely true. Maybe it's bullshit, but she may be coming to terms with the realities of their situation. And I was thrilled to see Tywin level with her about the Iron Bank. There's so many parallels to the present in that situation with the crown's debt (as well as the entire Middle Eastern allegory that they've been playing with with Daenerys for years). Perhaps it was in the spirit of all that new enlightenment that Cersei chose to go to Oberyn and finally have a non-bitchy conversation - yes, she was trying to secure his cooperation re: Tyrion, but it wasn't just about that. Really amazing stuff for her character, and for everyone else and their characters who were sharing time with Lena Headey this week. Loved Podrick and Brienne. Just loved it. I had a feeling Bran would just miss Jon. I was so terrified for the kids, but Bran did what he felt he had to do. I loved their showing Jojen's visions, and I'm glad it wasn't curtains for them yet - I was terrified Burn Gorman (who is one of the most versatile actors working today; just look at this vs. his polar opposite scientist role in the otherwise very mediocre Pacific Rim) was going to off both the Reed kids, leaving Bran and Hodor alone to brave the wilderness. Interesting parallel this week, I think, with both Daenerys and Jon beginning to come to terms with ruling - as many characters have said, it's not just about winning the throne, like Robert did; you have to learn to maintain it. Daenerys is doing that in Essos, and I think it will be a fascinating examination of what she's done thus far; Jon, meanwhile, is coming off more and more like Ned/Sean Bean by the day, and he suits that shadow very well. I adored the stuff at the Eyrie. Kate Dickie - who, if you haven't seen her opposite Tony Curran in Andrea Arnold's Scottish thriller Red Road, you must - is always a delight, and fantastically, tragically insane as Lysa. So is that kid, he's still a trip. I was floored, though, by the reveal about Jon Arryn. I got accidentally spoiled about a few potential upcoming moments at the Eyrie, but I had no idea that was coming. Littlefinger just leveled up in terms of villainy, and Sansa is right in the thick of it. I hope Brienne and Pod get there before things go really south. Fantastic episode. Did I miss anything?

Peter Dinklage has only gotten hotter in the years since I saw him walking out of a Starbucks across the street from my MTV gig and foolishly did not accost him then and there like a raving maniac.

Yep. I remember reading about that, one of the first times I ever picked up a soap mag. I couldn't believe they would get rid of Cassie, who I saw as part of the firmament of the show - she was like a big sister to me.

Yeah, I didn't have a problem with Jessica losing the baby. I did have a problem with her popping out a few in rapid succession years later. And yes, the Dorian situation ended far too quickly, but that was typical of JFP at the time. She shortchanged characters she didn't care for, and she was angling to push Robin Strasser out, which she did. I'll never forgive her for that, or for killing Mel or firing Laura Bonariggo.

Andrew and Cassie were well-liked, but they became boring in time. I know I was bored with them at this point, though I liked them both. After a certain point they just hung around as the nice local couple, trimming the hedges at the rectory or whatever and fretting over other people, and that wasn't story. Laura Bonariggo (Cassie) was apparently bored to tears at this point and very big on being paired with Kevin Stapleton - the Kevin/Cassie thing had a lot of fans, and I liked them as well. But she spoke glowingly about Bob Krimmer a couple years ago as well. The truth is the show didn't appreciate Andrew after Malone and Gottlieb left; didn't know how to use him, took him for granted. I did as a young fan - I thought he was a nice guy, but after a while he was just wandering around dispensing advice. They tried him with Téa but he was pretty much used as the goat for Todd, which is too bad since he did have chemistry with Florencia Lozano. I find him so much more fascinating now, but his best stories were his early ones, because Andrew was so much a piece of Michael Malone. And Malone himself remained ambivalent about Andrew and Cassie, I think - they went with it because of the chemistry between the two though they hadn't planned to pair them, but after they did, Malone continued to tease Andrew and Marty for several more years, including after Marty's rape. The Kevin and Cassie pairing was sabotaged by JFP, who fired Stapleton and hired Tim Gibbs (who Bonariggo couldn't stand), then fired Laura for not being hot enough for her man Gibbs. I wasn't particularly wedded to them, especially after I saw Kevin get with Kelly. In the end, years later when Bonariggo and Krimmer would make guest appearances together in the last few years of the network show, I wanted them to just reunite Andrew and Cassie - give them a happy ending back together. Why not?

I remember tuning in when that story happened - suddenly innocent Jessica, who was about my age was slugging back some liquor and having a bad day. I was shocked, but intrigued, because I knew that happened IRL with kids I knew and I was shocked the soap was "going there" with little Jessica. I didn't care about Will or how it played out - in fact, I grew to despise Will Rappaport - but I thought the story itself, Jessica gets drunk, wastes her first time with the wrong guy, gets pregnant, etc. was all valid, real stuff.

Lena Headey comments on The Scene. I don't care for the blog I'm linking to, I never have, but they reprinted her take and I pretty much agree with it. The scene is ambiguous, those characters are ambiguous, the show is ambiguous and people will get over it. She also apparently indicated that she will I've been following her since she was in that silly little teen thriller Gossip with Norman Reedus over a decade ago. And if anyone still hasn't seen her as futuristic drug kingpin Ma-Ma in Dredd, it's on Netflix Instant and she is incredible. (Though it's one of the few 3-D films that deserves to be seen and truly appreciated in 3-D - it is a gorgeous spectacle designed for that format.)

Yeah, I mentioned it a while back, I think. He was also the little boy in Love Actually lo those many years ago. Now he does magazine shoots where he's in leather jackets smoking cigarettes rocking the James Dean pose and I feel very confused.

Unbelievably enough, Thomas Sangster is actually in his twenties. Jojen has had seizures apparently related to his warging or visions or whatever since Season 3; Meera was used to them. I don't know if this new illness is a side-effect of that or if he's become ill since they went over the Wall. He certainly never looked like that before that I can recall. I have no idea what I'd do with Cersei or anyone; it's one thing to play fixer-upper on the soaps, but with GOT I think they've got their heads on straight with the story trajectory. I think a lot of these characters have expiration dates and I suspect Cersei may be nearing hers. She's a tragic figure, but she's also contemptible, rootable - she's a lot of things at once, like most of the characters on the show. I have no reason to believe Tyrion is going to go down for Joffrey's death and I don't think Cersei is capable of sitting still for watching the Tyrells wed themselves to their House as everyone but Cersei herself has planned, so unless the status quo holds indefinitely or unless she pulls a Hail Mary and eliminates them, or simply learns to cope, I don't know what Cersei would do going forward. I look forward to finding out if they surprise me, but if this is her Waterloo I will definitely enjoy that too.

IDK if I did, but yeah, he sure did. I have my suspicions that this season is curtains for at least a couple of the key Lannisters - specifically, Tywin and Cersei. Tywin seems too secure with the line of succession and the frame-up on Tyrion, and Cersei, well, what has she got left? The Tyrells are edging her out (and I'm in their corner, frankly, though I find Cersei a fascinating character) and Tywin has no respect for her either; I think he's manipulated the throne and mishandled his kids for the last time. I dunno if poor Tommen could possibly outlast his elders, but who knows. It's all so exciting! I just hope poor Jojen doesn't die a horrible death at Craster's Keep Thrill Kill Kannibal Kamp. He looked beyond sick. And Hodor!

That was one big-ass cat. I do hope we see a Ser Pounce again, though. Depends on how long Tommen's day in the sun is, I suppose.

Ser Pounce reacts to the news of his being benched via Twitter. ("I make my own fate") I had no idea Dean-Charles Chapman (our new Tommen) was also one of the Billy Elliotts. I saw the show here on Broadway, it was a good time.

io9 discusses last week's final scene and reminds me of the legend of the Night's King, which I'd watched a piece about in the lore section on the Season 1 Blu-Ray but forgotten about. Potential spoilers in that HBO Go apparently let slip with a name in the cast list re: the White Walkers shown at the end, but it's mostly just spec. If it's true that the Night's King's forbidden human name was well, that's interesting.

I think it's both. The fact is, this show is set in a medieval fantasy era. People's ways of life, their priorities, their society is profoundly different than ours. Women are often treated like chattel. The priority of the crown is for Tommen to marry and breed, which Tywin indicated Tommen would need to do very soon; the priority of the Tyrells is for Margaery to wed and bed him. It doesn't matter how old he is or isn't, it doesn't matter that she's much older - she is aiming to charm him, wed him and have his child. That's it. The fact is that yes, Margaery was seducing him AFAIC. That is her role. That's exactly what Olenna told her to do. She was charming him first - becoming his friend, bonding with him over his cat, getting to know him, but, I felt, very clearly intimating the promise of romance and beneath that, of sex. That was all over her body language, her dialogue; it was all over the way he reacted to her, too. The scene straddled that line very carefully, but very clearly IMO - there was sex between the lines, but it wasn't just about sex. She was seducing him in other ways and implicitly promising the rest, and he was clearly smitten with her. That is Margaery fulfilling her role for House Tyrell and to become Queen. Those are the facts of life in a medieval society - I don't think Margaery has a thing for children, but she is there to befriend and seduce and wed a King. And that King is Tommen, who is a young teenager, and as far as she's concerned that is exactly what she's going to do. And that's that. The show's not set on Earth in 2014 - people on the Internet debating whether Margaery is a threat to children is, IMO, completely ridiculous. She's there for one young boy king. The fact that this is Westeros and not Earth is, IMO, the same reason Cersei and Jaime didn't bother to talk about their nasty interlude last week. That's not what these people in this world, particlarly those two people with their twisted rapport and decaying relationship, do. Instead she ordered him around, called him by his title and ordered him out of her sight. That is this world. And sure, it can be unseemly.

It's been four seasons - it's taken you this long to give up on a show you've said you've always hated? I don't see where the characters are failing. And I don't see what's supposed to be so wrong with Bran's story - I like the new twist in things, there's actually people to interact with and things going on, whereas last year was a lot of table-setting for Bran and friends. I personally think the Jaime/Cersei situation last week wasn't supposed to be anything more than tortured, rough and only barely consensual sex in a broken relationship - a liaison she really didn't want but reluctantly ceded to. But I did think the scene this week between them deftly straddled the line regardless of our interpretation. She's drinking heavily, she shut him down, called him "Lord Commander" and told him to get out. For whatever version of events the viewer subscribes to, including all the stuff prior to last week, Cersei is clearly affected and their affair is done. I think that's more than enough, especially in a medieval world where nobody's going to sit down for a long discussion about their boundaries.

Kate Dickie is back next week, lookin' crazy as ever. I hope that crazy kid of hers is back too. I love Kate Dickie. Season 4 will be at the midway point next week, and unless I'm very wrong both the Stark girls and two of the Stark boys are on their way to unexpected reunions, at the Eyrie and Craster's Keep. We'll see if either of them make it. I have a sinking feeling Jon may just miss Bran, again.