# Game of Thrones 3.01 "Valar Dohaeris" 3/31/13 No book spoilers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244 "2013-03-29T07:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/21 "2013-04-01T02:53:03Z")
[This page](http://owlundermycowl.tumblr.com/image/32262339802) has a nice cheat sheet of many of the characters. Useful in particular for the Stark kids, all of whom look the same (to me at least). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/22 "2013-04-01T03:18:35Z")
Not only is that thing not a useful cheat sheet, it didn’t even have one decent joke in it. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/23 "2013-04-01T05:26:18Z")
The first episodes of a season are always a bit slow moving, setting up the chess pieces, but I liked it. The return of Barriston Selmy is very badass. I do hope he gets the chance to kill Joffrey’s entire kingsguard. The nutless super soldiers are an interesting addition. Kind of pops up an army out of nowhere for Dany. I was hoping to see her recruiting people by inspiring a nearly-religious fervor because of the mystical nature of dragons rather than buying her way to an army, but the idea of superhuman killing machines can be interesting. I wonder just how much she stole from Xaron Xra… uh, X-man. At the end of last season Dany asked Jorah if this would be enough to buy a ship, and he said yes, a small one. Which doesn’t sound like the sort of fortune you’d need to buy thousands of trained supersoldiers. It didn’t seem as though Margaery’s charitable service was just for show. We’ve only seen her as power hungry up until now - it would be interesting if she was a genuinely good, charitable person who wanted to use her power for good, even if she’s very ambitious towards that power. Certainly it would contrast with the rest of the noble assholes. The scene between Tyrion and Tywin was pretty brutal. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/24 "2013-04-01T05:33:47Z")
Did Tywin find out about Shea? If so, how? It seems like she’s still running around as Sansa’s handmaiden. You’d think he’d have run her out of the city if he knew. I suppose perhaps it doesn’t matter as much now. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/25 "2013-04-01T08:49:20Z")
Remind me, how did the blonde hair girl (I’m also terrible with names) get her dragons back? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/26 "2013-04-01T10:48:37Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Remind me, how did the blonde hair girl (I’m also terrible with names) get her dragons back? Dany’s dragons burned down the green-mouthed magicians’ palace once they captured her. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/27 "2013-04-01T11:03:46Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Did Tywin find out about Shea? If so, how? It seems like she’s still running around as Sansa’s handmaiden. You’d think he’d have run her out of the city if he knew. I suppose perhaps it doesn’t matter as much now. Cersei found out that Tyrion had a whore, but nabbed the wrong girl. I assume Tywin heard it from her. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/28 "2013-04-01T11:31:42Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > It didn’t seem as though Margaery’s charitable service was just for show. We’ve only seen her as power hungry up until now - it would be interesting if she was a genuinely good, charitable person who wanted to use her power for good, even if she’s very ambitious towards that power. Certainly it would contrast with the rest of the noble assholes.. Loved the polite-with-razorblades exchange between Marjorie and Cersei. Also Cersei’s not-quite-hidden face change when Joffrey said “My mother’s always had a penchant for drama, facts become less important to her as she grows…older” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/29 "2013-04-01T11:42:20Z")
Something absolutely horrible has to happen to Margery. Because in Westros, being a decent person means horrible things happen to you. Your head gets chopped off, your father hates you and thinks you’re vile. Even with the Stark children. Sansa, the shallow and easily lead one gets to live in a castle. Oh sure, she gets smacked around every now and again but contrast that to the crap Arya has been through. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/30 "2013-04-01T11:49:45Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Something absolutely horrible has to happen to Margery. Because in Westros, being a decent person means horrible things happen to you. Your head gets chopped off, your father hates you and thinks you’re vile. Even with the Stark children. Sansa, the shallow and easily lead one gets to live in a castle. Oh sure, she gets smacked around every now and again but contrast that to the crap Arya has been through. The idea of marrying Joffrey doesn’t sound horrible to you? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/31 "2013-04-01T11:50:36Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Something absolutely horrible has to happen to Margery. Because in Westros, being a decent person means horrible things happen to you. Your head gets chopped off, your father hates you and thinks you’re vile. Even with the Stark children. Sansa, the shallow and easily lead one gets to live in a castle. Oh sure, she gets smacked around every now and again but contrast that to the crap Arya has been through. Does getting married to Joffrey count? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/32 "2013-04-01T12:07:59Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Something absolutely horrible has to happen to Margery. Because in Westros, being a decent person means horrible things happen to you. Your head gets chopped off, your father hates you and thinks you’re vile. Even with the Stark children. Sansa, the shallow and easily lead one gets to live in a castle. Oh sure, she gets smacked around every now and again but contrast that to the crap Arya has been through. But **Biggirl** - she isn’t decent; she’s Machiavellian. She was willing to let her brother help with gay King Renly’s sex drive because she wants to be The Queen and knew the situation between Renly and her brother. She is interested in marrying Joffrey for the same reason - power, for her and the Tyrells overall. She visited those orphans for the same reason - it positions her well as a beloved queen figure - it has nothing to do with goodness. I know nothing of what’s in the books - I am just watching the show - but I would bet that next time Joffrey wants to get kinky and sadistic with someone, Margery will offer to use the whip or hold the whore still while Joffrey beats her. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/33 "2013-04-01T13:20:33Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > At the end of last season Dany asked Jorah if this would be enough to buy a ship, and he said yes, a small one. Which doesn’t sound like the sort of fortune you’d need to buy thousands of trained supersoldiers. She held up gold bowl (I’m assuming gold, I suppose it could have been something else.) I assume when Jorah said it would buy a ship, he meant just that one piece. They took a LOT of stuff from Xaro. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/34 "2013-04-01T13:35:08Z")
I’m surprised Dany is buying an army right now, before the dragons are fully grown. Why spend all your cash on a super-army before you’re ready to strike? Now she has to feed them, wait for the dragons to grow, and essentially hide out. Unless it’s just common knowledge that dragons take just a few months to reach maturity. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/35 "2013-04-01T13:59:53Z")
Her plan is not contingent on the dragons being decisive in battle. She hopes to use the confusion of the civil war to land and have people rally to her cause. Then with the combined forces of her Dothrakis, her mercenaries, and those still loyal to the Targaerans win the war. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/36 "2013-04-01T14:03:10Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I’m surprised Dany is buying an army right now, before the dragons are fully grown. Why spend all your cash on a super-army before you’re ready to strike? Now she has to feed them, wait for the dragons to grow, and essentially hide out. Unless it’s just common knowledge that dragons take just a few months to reach maturity. It seems like she wants to strike now, and not wait for the dragons to grow to full size. Which it doesn’t seem like the slave army is going to be enough. They’re ruthless fighters, but they can’t take King’s Landing until the dragons are full size. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/37 "2013-04-01T14:07:32Z")
Plus she needs protection. People ant her dragons and she only has like 30 bodyguards. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/38 "2013-04-01T14:11:59Z")
Did I miss something, or did they not explain what happened at Harrenhal? Last we saw Arya was escape and there were a couple guards dead. Then the Starks show up and there a bunch of killed Northern soldiers there. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/39 "2013-04-01T14:14:53Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Did I miss something, or did they not explain what happened at Harrenhal? Last we saw Arya was escape and there were a couple guards dead. Then the Starks show up and there a bunch of killed Northern soldiers there. It’s implied that The Mountain and his men left, and sacked the place/killed all the prisoners/captives. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244/40 "2013-04-01T14:22:22Z")
Wait, I thought Xaro’s vault was empty… Did anyone else think that Ser Jorah perfectly understood what the Ben Kingsley look alike in that city was saying? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-3-01-valar-dohaeris-3-31-13-no-book-spoilers/654244.md?page=3)