Shadowlass

Visiting him was support. I'd be a little surprised if Jaime testified on his behalf, but only a little. Yep. It would be a pretty circuitous plot otherwise, with the slimmest chance of success. Did we know previously the translation of valar morghulis? I've been surprised how often we've heard the term since A Man told it to Arya.

Holy moses, that whitewalker god/whatever looked like a straight-up demon from BtVS. I was not expecting anything like that. Loved that Lady Olenna was not about to let her granddaughter get tied for life to a psycho and took matters into her own hands. And it's fascinating to me how quickly Cersei is losing power and influence. Tywin pulling Tommen right from her side last episode and indoctrinating him, including directly criticizing Joffrey. Margaery slipping past the guards to head off Cersei by befriending Tommen. Jaime deciding to honor his promise to Cat through Brienne, and supporting Tyrion. Cersei is losing everything.

That was going to be a mercy killing, basically, to save him from what the invading forces would do to him--a pretty far cry from killing Joffrey so she could hold onto her influence. God knows, though, she likes being queen. After the pie was sliced there was an extended shot of the open pie. Even before I got to the end and saw how it shook out, I rewound that weird, meaningful pie shot three times. I never did see anything, but it was a very peculiar shot. I can't imagine it was Margaery--she looked too disgusted during various points of the celebration. If she knew he was going to die she would have been better able to maintain a pleasant expression, knowing he was going to get his ASAP.

I find it fascinating that the Lannisters would have Jaime's hand made out of a material that is beautiful and valuable, but soft and easily damaged. Which I guess might be a metaphor for how Tywin sees Jaime himself.

I don't think we've seen anything that indicates Arya can't become a great swordfighter because of her size. Syrio was described as a master swordfighter, and he was barely bigger than she was in season one. And we haven't actually seen grown women other than Brienne succeed at fighting men because at this point she's the only woman we've actually seen try.

Criminy. Your mention of Littlefinger and Aunt Crazypants awaiting Arya at the Eyrie gave me the horrible thought that Littlefinger might murder Lysa and her son (okay, that's fine with me) and try to for force Arya to marry him in an effort to consolidate more holdings. Dear lord, why would you make me think that?! The only other statue I recall was Lyanna's, which was hidden away in that crypt/cave, almost as if it were forbidden.