Lord of Bones

If Martin didn't intend for the Hound to enter the story again I'm sure he would have killed him off instead of sending him to the Quiet Isle. At least I hope so, the Hound is one of my favourites. I could see him joining the newly re-instated Faith Militant of the Seven, but really I'd like to see him get his hands on a Valyrian sword and take out some White Walkers in the end. I agree that Arya spared him because she got to know him and realized he only killed Micah on the King's orders. He was told Micah attacked the King, not much else he can do. Oberyn's death is one of the more dramatic events in the books and I can't imagine D&D changing that unless they have him replace Doran's role somehow due to Doran's failing health and just rallying the Sand Snakes himself.

Yes, I believe Cersei sent Doran someone else's skull. Either a disproportionately large skull from one of the dwarves brought to her that was mistaken for Tyrion, or simply a large man's skull, like Smalljon Umber, who was beheaded at the Red Wedding. Ser Robert Strong's face may be horribly disfigured from Oberyn's poison or they're just hiding his appearance but I think it's still the Mountain's brain under there.

If Lord Beric is the same guy every time he's brought back, why not the Mountain? He may have suffered a painful death, but I believe he's alive and still the same villain he always was. Maybe the show will give some more backstory on Ser Gregor before the trial by combat. This is one scene where I hope they use a lot of book dialogue.

I should have said re-introduced but I suppose without a tongue that would be unlikely. They're going to need someone to blame for Lysa's death. Or is Littlefinger going to claim she tripped and fell out, or threw herself out?

I hope they introduce Marillion soon, otherwise who is Littlefinger going to blame for Lysa's trip through the moon door? Maybe they'll have him be inappropriate towards Sansa in one of Sansa's next scenes, similar to in the book, so that Sansa is somewhat fine with him taking the blame.

I always assumed Cersei would get out of her marriage to Loras by having Tommen name him to the Kingsguard. Since show-Loras is the only Tyrell heir, is this really not going to happen? Is Loras just going to hang out in King's Landing until his future plot events? I really hope him and Cercei don't actually get married.

In episode 1 Arya asks the Hound why he didn't steal from Joffrey before leaving and he claims he's "not a thief" and "a man's got to have a code". Now he's stealing silver in the next episode he appears in? Jaime saving Brienne from rape and then raping Cersei in the sept was awful. She did not seem to give consent at any point. His redemption arc in the eyes of non-book readers will be set back big time. Hoping that's the last brothel scene we see. I don't understand Tywin walking into a brothel to interrupt Oberyn. He can't wait to talk to him afterward, somewhere more appropriate? I can't imagine Book-Tywin walking into a brothel to interrupt an orgy. Nice to establish Oberyn's knowledge of poison and that he's now a judge. Stannis talking of going to the wall at the end of season 3 for dramatic purposes and now no mention is made of it and he's threatening Davos? Looks like the Iron Bank/Stannis connection is being made much earlier. Will Davos still be going to White Harbour? Sam/Gilly was boring and different from the books but I suppose they had to get her out of Castle Black for the upcoming battle. Littlefinger/Sansa was good, I'd prefer if he explained what happened in more detail, maybe that will be in a future episode. I always thought Margaery was in on it in the books too but I'm fine with this. Dany/Daario was good but the wink from Daario before throwing the knife was a little corny. The champion of Meereen did look like how I pictured it in the books, which was nice.