Game of Thrones - The Bear and the Maiden Fair * *

There’s more kissy-face flirting between Jon and Y’gritte, talking about her in a silk dress and being amazed by a windmill, the wonders of architectural design at Winterfell in comparison. Their chemistry is undeniable, although the warg has serious problems with Y’gritte loving an outsider because he “was pretty”. And the warg continues to get in Jon’s face, making sure he realizes that he must remain important in their mission and not a liability. Giantsbane does seem to have taken a liking to Jon, giving him good-natured grief for all the sex with Y’gritte. After their success over the Wall, some lighthearted banter and romance perhaps is welcome.

And Daenerys’ confidence and bravado gaining with each city she leaves in ruin, her Unsullied (and free) army following her lead, sets sight on another town, Yukai, with over 200,000 slaves. Her dragons continue to be intimidating  and a royal member of the community meets her with assurance of his safe passage to her and back home. Gold won’t buy her off nor ships offered to her. She wants the slaves…an increase in her already impressive army. But he warns Daenerys that leaving Yukai the same as Qarth and Astapor won’t be so easy. That he would report her rejection of their offer to those who might retaliate. Jorah will need to investigate.

Melisandre and Gendry on a ship passing by King’s Landing and their conversation revealing that he was Robert’s bastard, an heir to the Iron Throne and dangerous to the Lannisters, could be considered another key moment very much like Melisandre and Arya’s was. If it goes anywhere, that is. Still the Red Witch is certainly much more involved outside just consulting Stannis and speaking of the night being dark and full of terrors. Arya certainly holds Baric and Thoros accountable for letting Gendry go, unyielding in her criticism, fleeing from their Brotherhood, only to be grabbed by The Hound inside the woods outside their cavern. Lannisters worth pursuing meant that Arya’s trip to Riverrun to be reunited with her family would be put on hold was enough to stir up her revolt.

And Lord Bolton does appear to be siding with the Lannisters as he sends Jaime ahead wanting him to let Tywin know that he had nothing to do with the missing hand. Robb learning of his wife’s pregnancy, as they head for the Freys for Edmure’s wedding, and Bolton’s clear case of hoping to bridge an alliance in his behavior…the Red Wedding is coming. A rainfall stopping Robb and his men from getting to the Freys on time was just one more step in their destined destruction.