So in light of what happened, I wonder if Cersei is less angry about her daughter being sent away? Probably not though. If I was Tyrion I’d be planning for an exit strategy. Joffrey is going to get killed, and anyone who’s near him at the time, before this season ends. Probably at the hands of an angry mob.
Well, there was an entire courtyard full of people who had been killed, so… no?
I don’t think she intended to kill anyone, whether out of scruples or out of practicality who knows? She intended to sneak out quietly, and when that wasn’t possible, she fell back on plan B.
I really loved this episode. I think that Theon is one of the most fascinating and well acted characters… he’s obviously a douche bag at some level, and yet his tragic fall arc has been so well played. He comes up with a plan that he hopes will impress his new family, he doesn’t think it through, he’s obviously not really ready to kill people he grew up with, etc., and each step falls so inevitably after the next, etc. A few slightly different things happen and he could happily be fighting alongside Robb.
So what does Dany do now? The dragons were her only bargaining chip.
On a very practical level if you off a guard, even a lieutenant while escaping they might run after you, they might not - there’s a little bit of a war going on after all and Theon’s going to need every body he’s got to hold Winterfell. But kill the Prince ? Yeah, they’ll ride you down like a dog all right. Theon might not be Baelen’s most favouritest offspring, but he’s still kin.
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If I was Tyrion I’d be planning for an exit strategy. Joffrey is going to get killed, and anyone who’s near him at the time, before this season ends. Probably at the hands of an angry mob.
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On the contrary, I think that’s his cue to convince Cersei to keep her little jerk on a leash and muzzle and let him take care of things for a change. If anyone can get the hearts and minds of an angry mob, it’s the dwarf with the self-deprecating sense of humour and good grasp of human psychology.
Seriously. You could almost feel sorry for him if he wasn’t such a dick-centered douche.
But then again, everyone in Westros is a douche in one way or another.
I think if Joffery has learned anything recently, he’s learned that in his society a boy King has way more status than a Queen dowager. While I doubt the King’s Guard would execute Cersei on Joff’s say-so, I do think they’d put her into protective custody if she started trying to throw her weight around.
I wouldn’t bet on Joffery surviving this season. But he’s been building up to a come-uppance for a long time already, so maybe they’ll just keep toying with us for years before he finally gets it.
For me, one of the interesting questions raised in this episode is who commands the Hound’s loyalty? He rescues Sansa, and when Tyrion thanks him he says “I didn’t do it for you.” So who did he do it for? Clearly not the Starks. I’m guessing Jamie rather than the Lannisters in general. Unless he really is loyal to Joff in the belief that Joff is Robert Baratheon’s son and heir.
I don’t consider Theon’s story to be all that big a tragedy. At the point his father slapped him down, he could have easily turned around and gone back to Robb to tell him, “Eh, didn’t work. My dad’s going to go after you instead.” It’s not some epic story of a person’s one strength becoming his downfall. He’s pretty much just a pathetic, shortsighted fool.
I don’t see how that could possibly be easy, or how it would have been any better for him. We like the Starks and want them to win, but in the world of Westeros he’d still be someone who turned on his family to side with the people who held him as hostage. He’d never be trusted by anyone at all except Robb and could never aspire to be anything but Robb’s lackey.
I thought it was obvious that he did it just for Sansa.
I’m not seeing a whole lot of empathy in the Hound’s character thus far. It was him who rode down and killed the butcher’s boy (Arya’s fencing buddy) back in season one, for example.
I suppose it’s possible he has a soft spot in his heart for Sansa, but I’ll wait for more evidence before I decide he’s not such a bad guy after all.
Why would his father let him leave the islands and warn Robb? Though we aren’t shown any specifics I am guessing Balon would have posted guards to prevent Theon from escaping.
Well, he did write a letter. Presumably the crows could get out. And no one told him he had to prove his worth to the old robber.
Bad guys are allowed to have soft spots for pretty girls too. I believe this is the third time in the series we’ve seen the Hound be helpful to Sansa in some way. The Hound is a complex character. For example, did he save Loras solely because he wanted an excuse to fight his brother? He didn’t seem to hate everyone cheering him when he did that. I think his relationship with Joff is a little complex too. Joff seems about as fond of the Hound as he is of anyone. Which isn’t saying much, but still sort of an interesting dynamic.
I got the impression that when Joffrey barked, “Come, Dog!” it was beginning to grate on him.
I’m not sure if it’s empathy for Sansa or contempt for Joffrey, maybe a combination of both. He prevented Sansa from pushing Joffrey off that catwalk in S1, and since then he’s seen how dangerous and stupid Joffrey is, and he’s gained respect for Sansa’s coping skills. He’s like the schoolyard bully who takes the wimpy kid under his wing.
Did The Hound also tell Sansa something like “Do as he says, it’ll go easier for you,” way back when he Joffrey made him slap her, then gently (for The Hound) wipe her cheek? Or was that the head of the King’s Guard that did that?
That was the Hound.
My DVD is on loan but I’m pretty sure it was someone else who slapped her, but it was the Hound who comforted her.
Another great episode. Love the casting on Ygritte. Also, really loved the music during the Jon chasing Ygritte scene. I don’t usually notice the music, but this instance was really perfect.
Arya’s scenes with Tywin continue to be stellar, especially with Littlefinger there.
Cersei’s delivery of the line about Tyrion losing someone he loves was perfection.
And it’s always nice to see Joff slaps. Keep them coming! 
Ser Meryn slapped her (the one that refused to go back for her this episode and also beat her in front of court earlier this season) and the Hound wiped her lip (and gave her his cloak earlier this season.)