The Rewatch Project: Season 3, Episode 8

Synopsis 

Arya wakes up on the ground and spots a rock. She gets it and goes to smash The Hound. He wakes up and says she has one chance. If she kills him, she is free. But if not he will break both her hands. He tells her she'd lucky. Someone worse could have found her. When she claims there is no one worse he tells her some men beat or rape little girls, then he tells her of the men he saved Sansa from. Arya calls him a liar. They reach a river and Arya thinks they are going to King's Landing. The Hound says Fuck Joffrey and fuck the queen. They are going to the Twins because Edmure is marrying a Frey girl and the Hound intends to get a ransom.

Dany and company watch a group of sell swords, discussing whether they can use the Second Sons. Jorah says they may not meet with her, but she insists they will. And she's right. Three officers arrive, one of them rudely forward. Dany banters with them. He continues to proposition, gooses Missendei and says he will think about it. She gives them wine as a gift and two days to decide, but she tells Barristan as they leave “If it comes to battle, kill that one first”.

Melisandre and Gendry arrive at Dragonstone. Stannis grabs his face, noting half Robert, half low-born. Melidandre orders Gendry taken for a bath and new clothes. Stannis questions her, but she has an argument about avoiding fear before the slaughter.

Davos makes a valiant effort at reading in his cell. Stannis arrives to see him. He tells Davos he is sorry about Matthos. Then he tells him about the bastard Melisandre brought back. Davos points out he is Stannis's nephew. They debate the sacrificing of one to save many. Davos asks why Stannis is there. Stannis says he will free him if he promises never to raise a hand against Melisandre again. Davos agrees but says he can't promise not to speak against her. (leads to EXCELLENT quote, below) They then discuss the red god and what they've seen.

The Second Son Captains discuss beating Dany as a whore sits on the Tital Bastards lap. Daario won't pay whores because he only wants to be with women who want him. They discuss who should kill Dany and draw coins to see who the job goes to. Daario gets the Bravosi coin and the job.

Tyrion comes for Sansa. They exchange compliments. Tyrion asks for a moment alone with her. He tells her he didn't ask for this. She keeps her courtesies until he says “I know how you feel” to which she can't hold back an “I doubt it.” He tells her he won't ever hurt her.

Margaery tells Cersei she looks radiant and Cersei tells her the story of House Rayne, making clear the parallels between Houses Rayne and Tyrell.

Sansa enters Baelor's Sept and Joffrey steps in to give her away. She is repulsed and can't really hide it. He walks her up the aisle then moves the bench Tyrion was meant to use to cloak her. Sansa has to kneel for him. The Septon says some words.

Gendry is in awe of his room. Melisandre comes in and talks of growing up poor. She pours him wine. He is distrustful but she does her word magic, then undresses him. He says it doesn't seem very religious. She shrugs out of her dress, putting down the faith of the Seven. She then says they can “stop it” and pushes him down onto the bed. She pulls his pants part way down, climbs on him, then binds his hands and feet. When he is trussed and unable to move she puts leeches on him. He appropriately freaks as Stannis and Davos come in. She gives Stannis the box with the leeches that have sucked Gendry's blood and he throws them in the flames, each with a name “The Usurper Robb Stark, the Usurper Balon Greyjoy, the Usurper Joffrey Baratheon.”

At the reception Lady Olenna goes through the twisted double relationships Margaery and Loras will have once they have married Joffrey and Cersei respectively. Tyrion is getting very drunk and Sansa excuses herself. Joffrey goes after her. Tywin critiques Tyrion's drunkenness and says he has a duty; he takes his wine. Loras spots Cersei and tries to approach her but she is a colossal bitch to him. Joffrey corners Sansa and suggests he will come to her that night—he notes she isn't pleased and says Ser Boros and Ser Meryn will hold her down. He then calls for the bedding ceremony. Tyrion says there won't be one and Joffrey commands it. Tyrion threatens him with a wooden cock and Joffrey has a hissy fit until Tywin makes it clear he wants everyone to accept the story that Tyrion was making a joke. Tyrion goes along with it, acting very drunk and leading Sansa away.

In their room he pours more wine. He is hung up on her youth. He says he's been commanded to consummate the marriage and Sansa pours herself a glass of wine. She then starts to undress. He stops her and tells her he won't share her bed, not until she wants him to.

Dany bathes with Missendei helping her. They discuss languages. A man grabs Missendei and says no screaming or she dies. It's Daario. He says he wants her. She knows he was sent to kill her. He has cut off his captains' heads. They ordered him to kill her and he chose her. Dany gets out of the bath. Missendei robes her and he swears a vow to her.

Shae comes into Tyrion and Sansa's room all pissy until she spots that the bed linens are not bloody.

Sam and Gilly find a falling down cabin and decide to stay. They huddle under the furs and discuss the baby. Gilly is upset about Sam's fancy talk, but he isn't doing it on purpose. They discuss names, Sam sharing his father's cruelty, then the birds outside go nuts. Sam goes to see what it is. The cacophony stops suddenly and a White Walker appears. Gilly says he's come for the baby. It grabs Sam's sword and the sword shatters. The baby cries and the White Walker goes for him. Sam gets out his dragon glass dagger and stabs him. The White Walker shatters. They run.

Notable Quotes

Daenerys: They will. Men who fight for gold can't afford to lose to a girl. 

Stannis: You have little regard for your own life.
Davos: Quite little, your grace. Verging on none. You could have freed me yesterday or tomorrow. But you came to me now, before this boy was put to the knife because you knew I'd counsel restraint. You came to hear it from me because you believe it yourself. You're not a man you slaughters innocents for gain or glory. 

Cersei (to Margaery): If you ever call me sister again, I'll have you strangled in your sleep. 

Sansa (to Tyrion): What if I never want you to?
Tyrion: And so my watch begins.

Book/Show

In the books Sansa refuses to kneel for Tyrion. She feels humiliated and in the moment wants to humiliate him in turn, though later she feels badly about it. Tyrion is always kinds to her but he does think repeatedly, “why couldn't she have knelt?”

Review

I really like this episode... I mean there is creepier than creepy Joffrey, but Tyrion doing the right thing by Sansa and especially Sam killing the White Walker—showing his hero potential for the first time. And the first episode of Team Fuck the King. I also like Dany's new ally, though two years later we still don't know if she can count on him or not... Davos. Gendry... Cersei being as awful as she ever outwardly is—she usually restrains herself a bit, but she really didn't hold back on either Margaery or Loras. So good.