This will be a quick one. It will almost certainly have spoilers.

Melisandre: For once, I wish they hadn’t stuck so close to the book. I know exactly what it is coming out of Melisandre’s nethers, and that still seriously freaked me out. I worry a bit that we will stay hung up on the fact that we just watched Melisandre birth a smoke monster, but for the love of the Seven, pay attention to what happens next.

Littlefinger: Seriously, that had to be the worst pick-up line ever. I think the Littlefinger/Catelyn Stark non-romantic subplot may put the lie to the Nice Guy(TM) theory like no other.

This is also yet another disappointingly-blunt statement from the famously-understated Littlefinger. I am concluding that his level of subterfuge and intrigue just doesn’t translate to the medium of television.

Robb Stark: I wasn’t sure where they were going with that encounter between Robb and the Volantene nurse (which was not in the book, BTW). She was awfully sassy for someone addressing a king. I think the scene showed two things: Robb is not the sort of king to take slights too personally, and Robb is not a hero to most of Westeros. His explanation of why it was necessary to maim that kid encompasses the absurdity of everything about his world.

Harrenhal: Yes, it’s a place, not a character. The audience doesn’t know very much about it, though. I feel like readers of the books have a major advantage here. It has to be hard to convey Harrenhal’s ignominious history through expository dialogue, but it seems like the screenwriters haven’t even tried yet. Maybe if some of Littlefinger’s hospitality consultants asked about Harrenhal’s history while naked, we might get to hear the story.

Also, I highly doubt that anyone much remembers the throwaway scene from last season when Ned Stark sent Beric Dondarrion to the Riverlands to bring the King’s justice to Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. Without that information, Polliver’s gratuitously-cruel interrogations about the “Brotherhood” make no sense at all. Those of us who have read the book are feeling a strange sense of dramatic irony over those who haven’t.

Daenerys Targaryen: Qarth looks pretty. I’m glad that I finally know how to pronounce Xharo Xhoan Daxos’ name. I don’t remember exactly what his character does, but I like him so far. Just don’t get too attached to him or anyone else.

Tyrion: Stop being so freaking cool! Also, I don’t care if it screws up the continuity, please let Bronn kill Ser Meryn. That would just be fun, albeit in a sadistic way.