Game of Thrones [SPOILERS]

[Ruvaldt]

I don't think that the drownings really came up until later...

[shiznitz]

Yeah, the detail on that religion is a Feast of Crows subject.

[Tale]

My main gripe the last few epis. has been the lack of focus on the religion of the IronLands.  I thought that was a very cool part of the novel and it was barely glossed over in the show; unless they plan on drowning someone later.

I've just started book 4 and I don't think that religion was really detailed until now.

[HaemishM]

I've only read the first two books and no, none of the religions were explained that much at all.

[Cheddar]

It starts up next season.

[angry.bob]

So the drownings are really just a baptism like what was done with Theon a few episodes ago? Or are they actual drownings like some sort of sacrifice? I wouldn't see that for the Drowned God who's supposed to be the good guy in his pantheon, but you never know.

[Rendakor]

Both. People from the Iron Islands are baptized like Theon was, but it's also how they execute their enemies (literal drowning) to offer them up as a sacrifice to The Drowned God. Finally, their clergy are literally drowned then CPR'd back to life.

[Merusk]

So the drownings are really just a baptism like what was done with Theon a few episodes ago? Or are they actual drownings like some sort of sacrifice? I wouldn't see that for the Drowned God who's supposed to be the good guy in his pantheon, but you never know.

I didn't think there were any other gods in their pantheon.  I don't remember any being referenced at least.   The DG is like any other sea god in fantasy;  the god is a mercurial, bi-polar sonofabitch because of the nature of the sea.  Helpful one moment providing sustenance and transport then drowning villages and breaking boats in half the next.

Ed: Also, don't confuse the religion with the culture.  "The Old Ways" are somewhat separate from following the Drowned God.  Theon's experiences should have explained a bit about that by now if you're where I think you are in the storyline.  At least in the book he went on about saltwives, & the feudal setup a bit.  You learn more and more about that as time goes on and he spends more time with his former people but the religion stuff comes in book 4.

[Ingmar]

Plus, you know, vikings. Human sacrifice wasn't exactly unknown to the real world version either. Modern conceptions of good and evil don't really map well to this kind of thing.

[Khaldun]

This is a big thing for Martin. He's really trying hard to write fantasy in a pseudo-historical setting where violence simply doesn't mean the same things to people that it does in the modern world. Nobody liked getting killed, raped or maimed by Viking raiders, but Viking raiders did not think of themselves as evil motherfuckers out to kill, rape and maim because they loved being evil. It's not just that Martin is trying to do the POV of different characters, but he's also trying to put all his characters in a world where being human is just...different. Now I think by book 4 & 5 he's failing at that because there's stuff going on that feels much more like consciously attempting to shock a modern sensibility, and characters who had much more modern POVs, but leave that for another day (or another season).

[Phred]

Both. People from the Iron Islands are baptized like Theon was, but it's also how they execute their enemies (literal drowning) to offer them up as a sacrifice to The Drowned God. Finally, their clergy are literally drowned then CPR'd back to life.

I think in book 4 it goes into how the "traditional" baptism was drowning and artificial respiration by the priest.

[Threash]

Hey it worked most times, well a majority of the time at least.

[angry.bob]

I didn't think there were any other gods in their pantheon.  

I found a refference (A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19) to The Storm God, The Drowned God's eternal equal and enemy. His main role appears to be a being a giant dick and trying to kill Iron Islanders and The Drowned God with guess what? Storms.

[Threash]

Tonks full frontal = win.

[Slayerik]

I'm glad I haven't read the books. This series is great. I'm going to be so sad in like 6 weeks when the season is over....

[Threash]

You are gonna be even sadder after i tell you there's only four episodes left.

[Slayerik]

I hate HBO sometimes.

I hate you more.

[Lucas]

Whoa, fantastic episode, IMO the best of the season by far. If you read the books, you'll know they made a pretty BIG change compared to the books; I think I know how that will end, but it will be still interesting to see how they will show it.

The boy playing Bran Stark is getting better and better, he's almost on par with Maisie Williams (Arya), IMO.

Addendum: oh, and Ygritte, my beloved Ygritte  . So far, it looks like that both the writers and the actress totally nailed the character. So happy, since she's  among my favourites of the book series (if not THE favourite).

[Merusk]

Hm.. some big changes to the details from the summary I just read.  Nothing that shouldn't keep the larger points from being completed, but it certainly will change a number of things.

[Tannhauser]

[Ironwood]

Where the hell are they getting all the ladyshaves from ?

[Khaldun]

I think the dragon theft is just a better plot device to get Danerys somewhere that she was already going to have to go.

[Cheddar]

I think the dragon theft is just a better plot device to get Danerys somewhere that she was already going to have to go.

She cannot kill in the town unless they break the rules.  Which they did.

Bu-bye.

[Khaldun]

I think the dragon theft is just a better plot device to get Danerys somewhere that she was already going to have to go.

She cannot kill in the town unless they break the rules.  Which they did.

Bu-bye.

I'm thinking here of a particular House...

[WayAbvPar]

Where the hell are they getting all the ladyshaves from ?

They must have a hell of a merkin budget.

[Nyght]

Where the hell are they getting all the ladyshaves from ?

They must have a hell of a merkin budget.

Oh man. Can't you just let fantasy live?     

[Arthur_Parker]

I think that's the first time I've fully appreciated that line from the story, really well delivered.

[Bzalthek]

Squee!

[Slayerik]

I really find myself enjoying the Tywin/Arya dynamic, though I know it can't last much longer. Decent episode all around!

[Tale]

I think that's the first time I've fully appreciated that line from the story, really well delivered.

It was amazing.

[Lucas]

I've always been in love with the character, but now I think I also enjoy the actress: love that husky tone of voice and how she delivers the lines 

[Bzalthek]

I just love how brazen she is without sounding like a drugged up hooker looking for enough cash to score another hit.  Not that I know what those sound like.

[HaemishM]

I must admit, after the last two episodes taking a somewhat drastic veer off from the books, I got a bit worried - especially when the dragons were stolen. But the more I think on the changes they are making, the more I'm actually liking them better than the book. I especially think the dragon hostage story makes a lot more sense than what was shown in the books. It gives Dany more reason to go to the House of the Undying in the first place. I'm still not sure how they are going to resolve the Jon Snow thing, but the interaction with Ygritte is interesting.

[Segoris]

As someone who hasn't read the books, Snow being lost with Ygritte is the first time I've given a shit about the Wall (and North of the wall) storyline. Really enjoying those two.

Arya and Lannister is awesome. Arya may end up as my new favorite character over the imp, but not quite yet.

[shiznitz]

At this point, since I read the first 2 books so long ago, it is hard for me to distinguish.  I remember that the dragons were never stolen, but the Ygritte subplot escapes me.