Tyrion, unlike Ned Stark, sees the need to "test" the small counsel so that he can determine who is a spy among him that would be detrimental to him. Ultimately it is Grand Maester Pycelle who turns out to be Cersei's eyes and ears (and mouth when needing to relinquish the goods), sent by Tyrion to the dungeon for his "betrayal". The news was that Cersei's daughter was to be sent away "as protection", not sitting well with the Queen Regent. Littlefinger isn't happy about being lied to by Tyrion (told that Myrcella, Cersei's daughter, would be wed to Robin Arryn), although a mission to convince his long-term crush, Catelyn, to let Jaime go does lessen the blow somewhat. Myrcella being sent to the House Martell as a means of alliance might not sit well with Cersei but what's done is done. All of this further establishes Acting Hand Tyrion hasn't been shy about ruffling feathers and provoking anger among those within King's Landing, especially Cersei. With Jon Snow seeing Caster sacrificing another son to "it", he provoked him to such anger that the Night Watch was no longer allowed to stay at the Keep. Lord Commander, upset with Snow, nonetheless must admit that he knew of Caster's cruelty, recognizing it as a necessary alliance despite his scruples. Samwell wants Gilly to accept something of his mother's, while she does so reluctantly as the two departs: Samwell involving a reluctant Jon Snow with what's going on in Caster's Keep has its consequences for sure, but this does further convey Jon's integrity. While I'm not all that wild and crazy about anything Theon Greyjoy, this episode continues his separation from the mission he had started out when returning home to the Iron Islands. Theon almost sends Robb a letter even, but decides not to, instead dedicating himself to his father, Balon, taking the water "baptism" in service of their god. Yara will be given most of the ships while Theon must prove himself...in the most effective moment, to me, is Theon questioning Balon's ridicule of him when it was his father who sold him off as a boy to the Starks. With yet another war on the horizon, Balon and his men planning to attack for control of the North, everything just gets more complicated in Westeros. Bran and his dreams, remaining the Stark "in charge" of Winterfell, in a discussion with Maester Luwin about "magic" does give us a moment of quality time between them as they continue their "studies". With Cat meeting up with Renly Baratheon and Robb still off fighting in the name of his father and total control of Wintefell and its segregation, Bran is given his own duties despite still being quite young and unprepared for such. Renly's marriage to Margaery remains such a rather shaky affair due to his homosexual relationship with her brother, Loras. Renly and Margaery setting aside the sexual orientation in favor of securing a pregnancy so the Baratheons and Tyrells are united to eventually go up against the Lannisters remains an obstacle. Cat recognizes that Renly carries the appearances of a King Baratheon but reminds him that his army, while impressively large, will need to be battle tested if ever a threat to the Lannisters. So with all the forces building, as Westeros appears to be a boiling pot where alliances are best for victory, who joins who seems to be how the scales will tip in favor of or against the Lannisters. Arya can't escape the nightmares of the past, as Yoren, leading her and the others among his company to the Night's Watch, tells her of the death of his brother. Yoren speaks of the one who killed his brother, always remembering his face and features (and how he killed him eventually). But not long after the Gold Cloaks return still looking for Gendry. A skirmish led by Yoren, which would obviously end in defeat due to the strength in numbers, leads to Arya losing her sword to a heelish guard named Polliver. Polliver using it on a kid that Arya often chatted with due to being leg-wounded gives Arya the chance to claim he was Gendry, a clever bit of in-the-moment quick-thinking. Arya, in order to survive despite the odds against her, will have to continue to use her wits and have a bit of luck as well. Letting out Jaqen H'ghar from a cage holding him during the skirmish could very well be a decision to serve her positively in the future.
Review of What Is Dead May Never Die
