No Chain! That was one best parts of the battle in the book.

That was long, loud, violent, and kind of boring.

<(Is Joe)

There wasn't a chain, no, and as entertainingly explodey as the episode was, it was still pared down compared to the book. The chain, though, was a device to show off how Tyrion won the battle with superior tactics. The chain itself isn't super important. What's important is demonstrating that this is Tyrion's victory, and he saved King's Landing in a characteristically Tyrion-esque fashion. We still got that feeling with the wildfire, even without the chain. I'm okay with having it cut, as long as the same feeling is conveyed the the viewer.

I just wanted to say good on you Joe. Sansa conducted herself with the poise and bravery in a difficult situation that is the hallmark of her character. It was inspiring.

The other thing that bugged me was Stannis on the front lines.. simply absurd that a king would lead the charge in such a situation.

The battle was incredibly pretty, but not as horrifying as my mind pictured when I read the book. The chain would've likely helped with that, but so would more of Davos.

[SPOILER BEYOND S2E9]

I like the way they used Davos in this episode, as it left the audience thinking he was dead*. They had to cut him where they dead, in order to give such a feeling of finality to his story. It will be a great surprise to the TV audience when he comes back later.

*The reaction I've gathered so far, anyway, is that most non-readers think he is dead.

Agreed all around. Bronn is now one of several characters who're served far better by the TV show than they are in the books: Cersei, Joffrey, Shae, Robb, and (loath as I am to say it) Sansa all come to mind. Considering Martin has had roughly 45,928 pages to flesh these people out while HBO's "only" had 19 hour-long episodes, I'm not sure how they've managed it. But I'm glad they have.

(On the flip side, Davos, Jorah, Sam, Jon, and Daenerys "New Sansa" Targaryen are all various degrees of less interesting on the show than they are in the books, so maybe it all evens out.)

@burning man: because this one time he got half his face burned off

THE BURGEONING AND HEART-WARMING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYRION AND SHEA IS GOING TO WORK OUT WELL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED (PS. I'M LYING. SHEA POISONS TYRION IN EXCHANGE FOR A REAL PROPER LADYHOOD IN BOOK FOUR).

I realize they're adapting a series of books with a particular story already written blah blah, but sweet Jeebus in blue jeans! Why won't somebody who's not an asshole in this story take the opportunity of a huge battle to STAB SOMEONE IN THE FACE?!? I'm looking right at you, Sansa, as you sit there moping under the sarcasm of Queen Sersei, who killed your dad and who regularly mocks you for having such a horrendous husband and a bleak future; I'm also looking right at you, Hound, who's willing to say "fuck the king" to his little weasel face but not willing to sword him into three or seven or twelve parts? Why not?!?! Who's going to stop you?!?! Who will even be genuinely upset about it, apart from the aforementioned Queen Sersei who, by that time, should already have a broken wine bottle crammed down her throat?


I'm just saying that in the chaos of a nighttime seige, once in a while a stray broken wine bottle comes flying in from nowhere and ends up shredding the queen's pretty throat. And sometimes a boy king takes a few random mace impacts to the head and sword blows to the heart.

Above all, FORGET THE HELMET! Forget leading a charge at all! Why didn't Stannis just deploy one of those stabbin' ghosts his girlfriend is able to crap out? It worked really well against his rival brother. One of those stabbin' ghosts could have swept through King's Landing and killed every Lannister within 100 miles while Stannis pared his fingernails.

@ Graham - you should consider writing your own versions of these stories.

@NEVER ALONE: I'M WORKING ON IT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SEXUAL AWAKENINGS OF BRIENNE OF TARTH AS SHE SCREWS HER WAY THROUGH THE CLEGAINE FAMILY (SORT OF A REVERSE 'STORY OF O').

Scot director Neil Marshall directed this episode and his knack for gory violence, done on a big scale and on the cheap, was readily and gleefully apparent.