Rumor is that in the series Tywin really will shit gold when he dies.
Am I the only one that got the impression that Olenna Tyrell was purposefully goading Loras to do something rash? Last week she declined the move by Tywin to draft Loras into the Kingsguard, but this week it felt she had changed her tune and was trying to plant a seed of disgust in Loras who would then escape to the Kingsguard (and keep watch over Margaery) and avoid marrying Cersei (with a possible incestuous Lannister bastard inheriting Highgarden).
The lack of Willas and Garlan in the show makes the need for Loras as an heir of Highgarden more important. Otherwise, I’m not exactly sure why they added the scene other than to have a comedy bit.
Here’s another thing I don’t get: in the book, Sam kills the white walker in the presence of a few of his friends, doesn’t he? That’s how he gets the name “Sam the Slayer”, and it comes up several times as he starts slowly building a little more self-confidence.
How are they going to call him Sam the Slayer with only Gilly in attendance? I just don’t see the other guys getting quite so excited about it when they only hear it secondhand.
I suppose they’ll just gloss over that whole thing. Kinda disappointing, as I always liked Sam, and when he actually KILLED A WHITE WALKER!!! I got stupidly excited.
I just had to look him up in the Wiki, since I couldn’t remember either. And indeed, it confirms that Beric Dondarrion knighted Gendry, who was last seen working the forge at the Inn of the Crossroads and saving Brienne from Biter.
Ignorance (or forgetfulness) fought. Thanks.
It’s Cersei, and WTF? How would the Queen have given live birth to a son who was then not recognized and protected as such? He would be the rightful heir (Gendry’s clearly older than Joffrey), after all. Is Gendry supposed to be the stillborn son whom Cersei mentioned to Catelyn? Hmm. Color me skeptical.
Was the stillborn son mentioned in the novels? I thought he was only referenced in the series.
You’re right. Everyone was surprised in season one when Cersei was consoling Catelyn about Bran, and talked about losing a baby. That conversation never happened in the books.
I’m re-reading A Storm of Swords now, and it’s striking how much show Cersei is different from book Cersei. Book Cersei could be a character from a romance novel, shallow and stupid and unnecessarily cruel. Show Cersei has a lot more shading.
I’m really looking forward to the Red Wedding. There’s a gif of Edmure with a big old shit eating grin on his face that’s floating around; I almost had a panic attack. However, the best moments were internal for Cat. They won’t be able to do that on screen. “Not my hair, Ned loves my hair.”
A couple of folks in the Unsullied thread have guessed that Robb is in big trouble with the Freys and have speculated he won’t survive much longer. I think folks will be much, much more blindsided by what happens to Cat. Damn I wish I had HBO!
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir]
It’s Cersei, and WTF? How would the Queen have given live birth to a son who was then not recognized and protected as such? He would be the rightful heir (Gendry’s clearly older than Joffrey), after all. Is Gendry supposed to be the stillborn son whom Cersei mentioned to Catelyn? Hmm. Color me skeptical.
[/QUOTE]
The conversation with Cat never happens in the books, but she does IIRC tell Ned that she got rid of Roberts baby. It’s implied to be an abortion.
I would also point out that Cersei and Jamie had sex in the sept before Joffery’s body. Compared to hiding that, a hiding a Baratheon child is child’s play.
And I really could do without that scene next season, thanks HBO.
[QUOTE=AuntiePam]
I’m re-reading A Storm of Swords now, and it’s striking how much show Cersei is different from book Cersei. Book Cersei could be a character from a romance novel, shallow and stupid and unnecessarily cruel. Show Cersei has a lot more shading.
[/QUOTE]
There was a scene between her and Robert in the series when he comments on how only one thing holds the kingdoms together. Cersei says “Our love”, and after a pause both she and Robert burst out laughing. I remember thinking that was a better scene than anything she has in the book.
They are working in her becoming more of a lush, though. I think the actor they cast as Qyburn was well chosen and I look forward to their scenes together.
The line was “our marriage,” I believe.
Pity. “Our love” works better for the irony.
Well, “our marriage” also has the benefit of being true. The realm doesn’t care about their love. It just matters that they were married and produced legitimate heirs. Which they didn’t, of course. But love was really always superfluous.
I always check at least three times to see that the page name says “open spoilers” before I post! I also had to edit a comment I made there about Rickon, since I realized after I posted that it was based on his jaunt with Osha in the books, and the show hadn’t done that (yet). Moments of sheer terror, I tell ya!
While she was on her period! It’s almost like George wrote that scene as a dare to anyone making a film adaptation.
Wow. Don’t remember that at all. Makes me wonder what else I’ve forgotten.
Cersei growing horns? Jaime and Brienne sleeping together? Stannis opening a frogurt stand on Dragonstone?
Sheesh, try to keep up, would you? 
I just started re-reading the books and only 1/3 into GoT it’s amazing what I failed to pick up on before; like the conversation between Varys and Illyrio that Arya overhears when she’s lost in the basement of the Red Keep. It’s also interesting to read with a fuller understanding of Littlefinger’s role in manipulating Lysa (I just got to the part where Lysa freaks out because Cat brought Tyrion to the Eyrie).
I can’t believe I cannot remember this important plot point, but can someone remind me who arranged for Bran to be killed with Tyrion’s knife and why? I can’t remember if it was Joffrey or Peter, and if they were just trying to get rid of Tyrion or if there was another reason.
Tyrion guesses that it was Joffrey and he did it to try to impress Robert, who had casually stated that it would be a mercy to just end Bran’s suffering. There’s no solid confirmation, but when Tyrion alludes to the knife before Joffrey’s wedding, Joffrey reacts guiltily.
Aha, thanks, that rings a bell. I’ll have to re-read that scene.