1. Completely agreed that Theon's beheading scene perfectly captures his descent into madness. What a fucking fool. Expertly acted.
2. Tywin + Arya scenes are so golden. Last episode's stare-down ("anyone can die") combined with this one's recollection of his father seemed so perfect.
3. Disagreed with the prevailing notion here that Cersei isn't perfectly cast, or that the actress isn't doing extremely well. She's displaying a subtlety and grace befitting a queen that few can pull off, while also being utterly callous and disgusting.
4. Jon Snow's attempted beheading of Ygrette was a nice contrast to Theon's hackjob on Rodrick, and both stand in contrast to Ned's clean, honorable cut compared to the utter glee that Joffrey displayed. What a perfect way to distill characters down to their essence.
5. Not sure anyone mentioned it, but Tywin is old school as fuck. Hard, but honorable in that "will likely kill you anyway" type-of-way.
6. An interesting parallel for me with the books is just how different the Khalisi/Targaryen chapters/scenes read and watch. I think they're done perfectly well, but it just seems so detached. The best thing they've done so far to tie them together, other than randomly mention concurrent events, is showing the flying overhead, panning up, then panning down on a different location.
7. FWIW, this episode did no favors for her character. Seemed a lot like her brother there.
8. I think Sansa is perfect, but the whore is the one that's miscast. Not what I imagined at all.
9. Bran and Rickon's wailing during Theon's proof-of-manhood there in the square was the first time I regretted the unavoidable use of child actors. Yikes.
10. Clegane's rescue of Sansa was so perfect!
