probably my favorite character throughout the books

WTF are they going to do with her in the Vale? Thats no where in the book. The Hound is dead or was left for dead. Arya needs to get back on the book track.

whats next, Arya and Sansa hug it out while the Hound eats chickens?

Think you better go re-read the books

They'll just leave since lysa is dead. They don't know Sansa is there.

That brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "Smashing your face in."

So if next week is going to be all about Mance Rayder laying siege to the Wall, will episode 10 be about Tyrion's escape and subsequent murder of Tywin on the pot? Do they have enough time for that?

They have to finish book 3 this season so there ya have it

Do they "have" to? I mean, it would be the perfect season finale, with Lady Stoneheart being the cliffhanger, but I'm just afraid they're pinched on time and won't be able to do it. Or at the very least, they do it and not do it justice.

Eh, whatever. They've done a pretty spectacular job to this point, so they have my trust.

That's my guess.

God, that was even worse than I thought it was going to be.

Yep. Popped him open like a ripe cantaloupe. Nasty.

I'm still a little traumatized, but in a good way.

After looking at the spoiler free thread as well as my Facebook, I'm worried about the ability of the show to keep viewer's interest through books 4-5. Hell, people are complaining that this season hasn't lived up to its billing. Can you imagine the bitching for the next 4 years on the drudgery of 4 & 5?

I have that exact fear. OH HEY, we get to watch Sam, Gilly, and Maester Aemon sail south! OH HEY, we get to watch the Sand Snakes, characters we haven't even heard of but are touted as fierce bad ass women warriors, get locked up! OH HEY, here's some kid that claims to be Prince Rhaegar's son trying to find Danerys! OH HEY, Davos is on a sightseeing tour of the north!

While I loved the books, I just don't think 4 and 5 will translate well to screen. However, as I said earlier, these guys writing for the show have done a pretty super job so far, so I'll trust them for now.

I think that's why we're starting to see random stuff like Locke and Grey Worm's romance, exploring ways to color the show down the road. I also figure they'll stretch out important sequences that are covered quickly in the books. Which is why I think Stoneheart has to be a part of it, and will likely be somehow more meaty than in the books.