And my point is, I just don't think he is on the path to redemption. He is pretty much what he has always been. Selfish, not entirely moral, but loyal and not downright evil. That's all.

"Your brother will become your father-in-law, that much is beyond dispute."

That conversation was funny!

That was great tonight, and that wasn't even the season final.

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark has really grown on me. I thought she was a little shortchanged this season but last night's work was amazing.

No end music. It was even more brutal to have no end music after that.

So is salt and bread a thing in other cultures as well? In ours it has significant meaning, when you eat salt and bread of someone, you become loyal to them.

Wow... That massacre scene was really well made, never saw that coming. Depressing episode.

I kept thinking, never let your guard down. Seems like all those old cranky lords are not to be trusted. Still it was one hell of a night. I now wish that I had read the books at times. Then again it would ruin the show if you know everything in advance.

Great people doing a great show with super sets and story line. I just can't wait to the next one.

In the US it would probably be beer and pretzels...but the meaning is the same.

Yes that was horrible...

I just played the reaction YouTube video for my wife, who has read the series, and she wished she recorded my recation. I had a bad feeling when Lady Stark noticed the musicians playing the Lanister song.

Really, really cold-blooded.

That would've been fun to watch!

It didn't make much sense to me as it was happening. I thought it was a little overkill, no pun intended, for a simple broken oath. But when they said, "The Lannisters send their regards," it all made sense. I haven't read the books, so I really don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jon Snow take over the Stark family. You know, the bastard son being the underdog and all. Maybe I'm way off. Anyway, great episode. Can't wait until the finale.

Don't know how long this clip will stay up...

The books and show were really close the first year and since then have diverged a little more as show creators Benioff and Weiss became more comfortable with their own interpretation. The impact of Sunday's episode was also felt in the books.

If you like the show I suggest reading the books. The first three, anyway are really really good.

Link might have spoilers for those who have not seen episode 9 of season 3.
Oh Shit, I Totally Forgot That Happens!

The Onion

BTW, I just spotted the soundtrack for season 3 on torrent sites, so it must be out.

Yes. The digital version is at iTunes and Amazon while the CD will be released July 9th.

Ramin Djawadi!

Wow - I just saw the "Red Wedding" episode. Now the joke that I heard makes sense...

Q: Why doesn't George RR Martin use Twitter?
A: Because he killed off all 144 characters!

What an episode! Can't wait to see the season finale!

Everyone has different tastes of course but I believe if you're not watching this show you're missing a treat.

Game of Thrones most watched HBO series since The Sopranos

The patriarchs of both the Corleone and Stark families make some very critical mistakes which bring both their families to the brink of utter and complete destruction. Neither of them realizes that the world has changed in some very fundamental ways since they took power. Therefore each of them is a little too secure in his power and doesn't realize that other people are playing by a different set of rules.

Ned Stark doesn't recognize that Queen Cersei or the relatively low-born Littlefinger can actually be threats. So he, from misguided mercy and benevolent sexism, informs Cersei that he intends to act against her, never imagining that she will dare to harm him or the king, in order to keep her secret safe. He makes his disgust with Littlefinger clear and refuses to take Littlefinger's advice. Ned even states that he will act in a manner which is clearly opposed to Littlefinger's best interests. He is nonetheless shocked that both Littlefinger and Cersei act in ways which, while dishonorable and underhanded, advance their own interests to Ned's fatal cost.

Vito Corleone doesn't suffer from mercy or honor but he does have Ned's pride. And it's this pride which makes him think he can impose his personal distaste for drugs onto the entire NY Mafia. It's pride which makes him overestimate Luca's abilities and his own craftiness, thus throwing away his most valuable warrior even before the war begins. It's pride (an unwillingness to look into details?) which makes him not realize that Paulie is a traitor until it's too late. He doesn't pay the same price that Ned does but the impact is pretty much the same. Like Ned, his oldest son has to take over a few years before he's ready.

Robb Stark is like his father in just about every way. He might even be a little more dangerous on the battlefield. He never loses a battle. Like Sonny is described in the book, Robb Stark is a relentless executioner who doesn't mind getting his hands bloody. But just like Santino Corleone, he lacks the ability to see the big picture. Finally his enemies use his strength (his honor and need to play by the rules) against him. Trying to make amends for a broken betrothal Robb is betrayed in a very ugly way. He never saw it coming.

Similarly Sonny possesses all of Vito's strength and then some. Although calling Sonny honorable might be a stretch he does believe in protecting the younger and weaker members of his family, a positive quality that much like Robb's honor is calculatedly turned against him and used to bring about his demise.

In The Godfather the Corleones had Michael to step in after what looked like total disaster, get revenge and make the Family even stronger than before. He had the benefit of learning from his father's and brother's mistakes as well as getting a crash course in being a boss from his Dad.

In The Game of Thrones series, it's unclear as to whether Martin wants to even go down the Stark revenge path. He enjoys subverting expectations, maybe too much so at times. The remaining Starks are very young but each will have powers which I won't discuss here just yet. Martin has not finished the series so no one except Martin and the HBO show runners know what the ultimate plans are. It may well be though that the Starks will get some measure of justice/revenge/rebirth. Their totem animal is the direwolf. The initial title for the final book in the series was "A Time for Wolves".

Did you see it coming Mark?

No, Lilo, nothing like that. I thought Robb might say or do something when his wife was being harassed/humiliated/insulted before everybody but nothing like an Atlantic City Massacre in GF3. I saw George RR Martin on Today show and he was pleased with the audience reaction... exactly what he wanted from people who love his characters as they love their own friends & family. My initial reaction was like when Janice shot Richie in Sopranos - I thought; "Did that really just happen?" Good stuff.

The red wedding was shocking and confusing at the same time. But from a neutral perspective, Robb Stark did have it coming the moment he broke his oath and married that foreign girl. Even though that scene was gruesome and very sad it is also great drama and does improve the show.

Overall, season 3 is much better than season 2 and is the best season so far. I found season 2 disappointing, but season 3 has brought back my interest and excitement and again I can't wait for the next season to begin.

Btw, did anyone know the actress who played Robb's wife is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin?

This episode didn't feel like a finale though. Nothing of consequence happened really. And so we have to wait another year.