Thanks for the clarification, I had completely forgotten about this guy.

It's worth noting that Robert was the middle child. Stannis is the older brother and, by rights, the true heir, just no one likes him.

Renly is just being an over-zealous shit, but he is well liked and, as mentioned, he's got a thing with Ser Loras, the Knight of the Flowers who used the in-heat mare in season one to beat Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in the jousting match (just before the loser cut off his horse's own head in front of everyone).

wow, really?
thought tonight's episode was one of the best of the entire series
if I had one nitpick it would be too much sex ... something I normally find difficult to criticize

wow, really?

Anyways, really liked this episode, and it continues to intrigue me as to what is going to happen next with these characters. I agree that the best line was about cersei tearing up the paper.

I didn't much care for Tyrion's line about the paper because he wasn't there for the iconic scene when she ripped up Robert's letter in front of Ned. I guess Cersei is doing a lot of paper tearing off screen.

That WAS explained last season, I don't know how many people caught it. However it is not a spoiler.

great episode. I liked the scene with Cersei/Tyrion and Gendry and Arya. Jon Snow's story is also well done. Even Daenerys' story was okay since it was brief.

Yeah, no kidding, don't the writers know the only way someone can be aware of an event is by personally witnessing it?

Robert was oldest. Stannis is now the elder because Robert died.

Awesome episode, in my view one of the better one of the series so far.

I suppose it doesn't really make a difference whether Stanis or Robert was older since Robert didn't become king through birthright.

Question from last week episode that may have been asked and answered in last week's thread : Are we supposed to know how Joffrey was able to identify Robert's bastards? I assume there was some sort of paper trail since Ned tracked them down pretty quickly, but I didn't know if that was something we were supposed to just assume (like how everyone in the seven kingdoms suddenly and simultaneously knows about Jamie and Cerci), or whether it's part of a later reveal.

My money would be on Varys.

Everyone knows about Cersei and Jamie because Stannis sent the news to "every corner in the 7 Kingdoms".

LOL - this was the only episode I remember that warned ONLY about violence and language.. there wasn't even a strong sexual content or nudity warning.. so I was surprised when the nekkid peeps started turning up!

Robert's (and Stannis' and Renly') grandmother was a Targaryen, which sort of legitimized his claim to the Iron Throne.

too funny, I didn't even notice that
how could last week be tagged for nudity and strong sexual content while this episode wasn't

anyway really doesn't bother me at all but I recently lent season 1 to my P's and was a bit concerned about the sexual content and was thinking about how they would view the content of this episode

True. With Rhaegar and Viserys out of the picture, Robert was either next or second in line to the throne in succession so it was more accepted.

Yeah that was a pretty big scene in last weeks episode. No assumption necessary.

Pretty good episode. Reactions:
1. Great opening scene between Tyrion and Varys. You could see Tyrion just seathing that Shea was talking airily with this guy. Tyrion immediately seizes on the situation and responds perfectly. Varys come-back was nice as well.
2. Finally more Arya. She's clearly a girl, the show requires a bit of suspension of disbelief on that front. Good scene with her and Gedry. Jaqen h'Ghar makes his first clear appearance as well (too good looking if you ask me). Yoren is not as revolting as he is in the books.
3. I thought they handled the dismissal of Slynt well. The whole subplot of him being sent off to Harrenhall as laid out in the books would be too hard to explain in the show. Also, the actor playing him played a very subtle kind of scumbag monster. Nice scene.
4. Littlefinger needs more to do and less talking. Also, enough Roz, I don't care.
5. Liam Cunningham is my favorite addition this year, he's really excellent at Davos Seaworth. Also, the Lysian pirate he's negotiating with deftly stole the scene.
6. Pyke is a great location but not as rough as the books. More rain lashing and sketchy catwalk crossing, please. Lord Greyjoy was well played, though.
7. Theon is such a dickweed, the actor playing him is great. His sister has a certain je ne sais quoi to me, though. Sexy in a tomboy way and oozing competence, just like I envisioned her. Yara's not her name in the books, is it? Regardless, another example of spot-on casting.
8. Do Stannis and Mellisandre (sp?) get it on in the books? I don't seem to recall that. Regardless, god damn, god damn, god damn. Best body in the show yet if you ask me.
9. We don't see Craster give the baby to the Other in the book, do we? Still, I liked this addition, very atmospherically staged and well handled.
10. Jesus, lets move the Danearys story forward a bit, shall we? Maybe next week.
11. Cersei in the scene with Tyrion shows that she has a bit of a soul left. Her motivations are complicated, but mostly she's just not that smart and extremely selfish. Her dialogue is well written.
12. Everyone needs reminding of who Renly is. He should have at least appeared in this episode.

I enjoyed this more than the premier. Felt like we had more time with the plots they focused on.

I am getting sick of Dany - she just talks big and doesn't actually do anything.

It was very odd seeing the boat son fondle his sister - and she seemed to allow/enjoy it! Also, not a big fan of his; he thinks he's better than he is and comes off as a major tool.

Can someone with more knowledge than me update the size of everyone's respective armies? I'm having trouble keeping track.

Renly - 117k ??
Robb - 20k ??
Tywin - 40k
Stannis - 5k + 30 ships
Lord Greyjoy - ???
Daenerys - 3 midwives, a goat and 4 men

I think you're about right with Robb and Tywin. Renly's army isn't quite that big. Greyjoy has maybe 10K soldiers and a pretty big navy. Stannis has a much bigger navy than just the 30 ships. Probably not too many men, though. Daenerys also has three dragons, never forget that. They're a really big deal.

Couple spoiler questions in relation to the 2nd book:

We're about halfway through with some storylines, haven't really started others, but couple things I missed and maybe I just read over them, and it might've been in the previews for next week so fair warning:

Just be patient , she's working things out at this stage.

These first two eps. also make obvious just how many characters this story is beginning to encompass. We didn't get to see Arya until the last shot of the season premiere, and this ep. was void of Robb and Catelyn. This one gave a lot to the Dragonstone characters, which is good as they are important.

There was no Joffrey or Sansa in this episode either.

[non book reader here]

Renly has at least 100k men.

I think the Danearys story is moving along at a great pace. She shouldn't become shunned, abandoned, and destitute one day, and Queen Of The Known Universe the next. Let her earn it. Let us see that although she has no reason to do so, she's made of bigger stuff, and completely believes to her core that she's a Queen and will eventually overcome whatever.

I loved Tyrion's interaction with Slynt. "The last 2 hands of the king died under your watch. I'm not hand of the king. I think I'll get you before you get me."

I also loved Tyrion's interaction with Varys. "I'm not Ned. I know how to play these games. Don't threaten me again."

As to the question about Stannis and Mellisandre getting it on in the books, I've seen at least one episode recap that says it was no more than alluded to that they were intimate.

To answer your questions