I admit to laughing like crazy at that line.

I thought for a moment Cat actually thought she treated Jon well, until she denied it. Haha.

Also honestly took a moment or two to recognize Bran in the beginning scene.

 

I honestly thought that he was Jojen. I knew better I just couldn't quite believe it.

 

I don't get why they are compressing the Arya storyline. I hope it's cause they've added new stuff there and not because we aren't going to be seeing much of her this season.

 

Didn't like the ending, I always thought what happened to Jaime in the books was, well, for the better of his character and actually developed into something. Not really sure how where they plan on going with this unless the Bolton's fill in the dismembering.

Interesting episode overall, some good bits, feel like the Jon scene was completely unnecessary apart from the Warg (Mackenzie Crook, we meet again). Still not a fan of Catelyn at all and not entirely sure if we just met Ramsay or not.

 

Yeah, they're gonna fill that part in.

And yeah, that was Ramsay playing his mindgames.

 

This. The minute Jojen said that the sight could see the past, present, future...really want to see what the creators do with that.

ASOIAF question: Why didn't the Tyrells join with the Starks to fight against the Lannisters? Because Robb is young or because Brienne joined with Catelyn...?

 

Tyrells joined the Lannisters because they want Margery to marry Joffrey iirc as they were formerly aligned with Renly (who then died), Stannis wanted nothing to do with them and, not actually sure why they didn't join the Starks, I imagine because they figured the Starks were fighting a losing battle regardless of Robb's victories, Tywin's just a better leader in every way. Could be Brienne maybe as Loras was out for blood following Renly's assassination.

I'm sure they explain it far better in the books but I don't have to mine to hand, I imagine Ash will pull it out of thin air though.

Edit; Littlefinger was there to talk with Catelyn prior to Renly's murder, I believe to negotiate an alliance with Renly and as such convinced the Tyrell's to join the Lannisters, even though I'm sure he told Margery to go back to Highgarden. Like I said, not 100% sure, imagine Ash will know.

 

An alliance with the Starks is not a path to the Iron Throne.

1. Robb doesn't even want the Iron Throne, he wants to just be King in the North.

2. No easy catspaw to marry, giving Margaery the throne.

Of course, that poses the question of why they wouldn't attempt to just become independent, as the Starks are. The Reach is easy to access, less defensible than the North. Better to be part of one united kingdom than worry about the Iron Throne striking you down once things are settled and your guard is down.

So, the route of marrying their way into the royal bloodline is the way to go!

 

And Robb is an idiot.

But really, there was no time. They started with Renly and then the window for them to switch sides was small. Robb had nothing to offer, the Lannisters did. End of.

 

Also there's the fact that the Tyrells were never the Kings of the Reach, that was House Gardener who got obliterated at the Field of Fire.

 

Well, if you want to get technical, they ARE descendants of Garth Greenhand.

 

Then again, they might just spend the whole time hinting at R + L = J ... which would thoroughly suck.

 

Robb didn't look like a winner- the Riverlands are practically indefensible, the Lannisters could replace their losses much more easily, and the ironborn were raiding the North.

The Tyrells back who they think will be the winning horse.

Also what Ash said about Robb not wanting the Iron Throne.

 

Both a repost and a new question:
1. Joanna Lannister lives after birthing Tyrion. Butterflies?
2. Why the hell didn't Balon raid the Westerlands (aka the richest region in Westeros) instead of the North (aka snow-ridden wasteland of nothing).

 

Tywin drowns the freak and tries again. Less-vicious but still ambitious Lannisters rule Westeros in time for the White Walkers to sweep down from the undefended Wall. No dragons to deter them = endless winter.

(...because Tyrion Lannister will save the world. I'll bet you real cash.)

 

On the latter question: Tywin has a fleet and can call on his bannermen. Tywin is also Tywin. Robert and his mercy are dead. A blonde boy sits on the throne and he is (presumably) ruled by his mother. If Tywin doesn't lose the ability to strike back he will come back and make a new hit single featuring the Krakens of Pyke.

The IronBorn are the better sailors but Tywin has better ships, more populous cities, more money and stronger bannermen. It'd end badly.

Also, Balon doesn't want to raid and then run back to his islands having earned the permanent enmity of one major house or the other. He wants to rule. The North is defensible. It has a natural chokepoint, spread out vassals, sparse population and it's entire army and command structure is caught campaigning in the south and cannot come to fight him without risking getting ass-raped by Tywin.

Really, the only major cities that had a chance to resist the Ironborn were White Harbour and...that's it. There are two other castles that he didn't take. The Dreadfort and Winterfell. He can just dig in til winter or fight them with the cream of his men vs the leftovers. Either way he's dug in.

The West is more populous. More men can be raised and it's be harder to control. And there was no reason to bet on Robb winning. Even if the boy won he'd retreat to his lands and let Balon fight it out with Tywin and his vassals, all of whom hate the Greyjoys after their burning of their fleet and rebellion.

 

Your first question:
Not necessarily, if you subscribe to the theory that A+J=T

In response to your second question:

1. He knew Robb's army was in the south, leaving the North open for the taking. The Westerlands are more centrally placed, easy for Tywin to reroute men to fight the Ironborn, leading me to the second point...

2. The North is easier to hold, due to being able to take Moat Cailin and hold everything north of it. The Westerlands are, again, centrally placed.

3. He hates the Starks, and Robb just tried to 'ally' himself with Balon. This is a nice fuck you to him.

But mainly, the North is weak, and easy to defend. Even if Balon took Lannisport or Casterly Rock, the Lannisters could smash him back at their leisure easily.

 

No good reason as far as I can tell. It makes no military or political sense. Robb is fighting for a return to the old system of multiple kingdoms. Every other player is fighting for a united Seven Kingdoms. There is no good reason to strategically to not ally with Robb if your aim is independence.

As for why he did that, I guess personal feelings could be an explanation. He does seem to particularly resent and hate Ned (even more than anyone else) for taking his son hostage. Other than that, you could of course just say that Balon is an idiot. His brother Victarion is an idiot too, they don't seem a particularly smart family.

 

Siding with frivolous green-landers and being given a crown is not the Iron Way.

Ironborn are a proud and insular culture, it's not stupidity, just pride and knowing that your countrymen will scorn you if you make a choice such as that.

 

Not to mention that it's the better choice. Robb has no fleet. If he gets mad he can...shake his fist.

Even if Balon takes Casterly Rock by some miracle, he'll have benefitted Robb's cause more than his own. Tywin will have to rush to take it back and he'd likely come to terms with Robb in order to be free to do so. What happens to Balon? How will he hold the West? This is literally an existential threat to the Lannisters. They will not sue for peace. They will take everything back or die trying.

And Robb? Is he going to run around capturing lands for Balon? If he has peace he's gonna sit it out. If not...he may try the plan he used anyway to trap Tywin west that was foiled but I wouldn't put my trust in Robb. He can just retreat, he already has gains. Balon would have to fight to keep his.