As a non-book reader who has only seen each episode once, I'll throw my own two cents in...

There are so many characters and plot lines going on that it is sometimes difficult for me to keep track of everything. Compounding this is the fact that it's been at least a year or more since I've seen any of the episodes prior to this season. I'm sure if I went back and re-watched the series from the beginning things that just went over my head the first time would make much more sense to me now.

All that said, I know exactly which clues everyone is alluding to and I at least understand who Theon's torturer is affiliated with, but it all means nothing to me. I'm sure there's some detail I've forgotten that would make this information more enlightening, but as it stands, especially when it concerns characters not affiliated with the major houses, I just kind of go with the flow and hope I retain enough information so that the big plot points make sense.

I realize that all of this probably makes me sound stupid, but I promise you I'm not. I just don't have the time/desire right now to watch each episode multiple times. I'm also hesitant to do online research on the things that I miss because I'm afraid of spoilers. I still enjoy the show though and I know that when I do get around to re-watching the series that I'll probably enjoy it even more based on all of the little stuff that I'll pick up.

Well said. For me, I'm curious as to why a lot of people hate this segment of the story and are using it as a bathroom break. Is it just cause it seems like torture porn with no ending? Or do people not care about this particular character?

Doesn't make you sound stupid at all. Not everyone has the ability or desire to rewatch old episodes for a more full understanding, but those people do themselves a disservice by not paying attention to everything, even if it seems pointless. You're not putting yourself in that situation so there's not wrong with that. You might forget something or need a bit of a reminder or a clarification, but at least you aren't willfully ignoring something.

Agreed. I get more frustrated by the people who seem upset that they don't know what's happening when it hasn't been explicitly told. Like it's the show's fault that they haven't been paying attention. Too many people surfing the net or reading their iPads while the show is on, I guess.

Sure, it's easier to catch some of those clues when you've read the books (as in I didn't need any clues at all) but they are doing a great job of including relevant information.

I think just blaming people for not paying attention is a bit rough; there's so many characters and places with unique names that are often hard to pick up that its easy to get lost as far as who is who. I'm sure its far easier as a book reader to recognize the names and characters on screen then someone hearing a name for the first time on the show.

I couldn't tell you the names of the Brotherhood members who have Arya, for instance.

A bit of both for me, and I am a book reader.

As someone who hasn't read the books, but who watches the show, I read the spoiler above and STILL have no idea who that is. So yeah, us show-only watchers have a hard time keeping track of all this.

On another topic, remind me again why they had to scale the wall...isn't there a tunnel that goes through it? How much trouble would have it been to walk AROUND the wall? I know, I'm being facetious, but this is what goes on in my head when watching the show.

Both.

The tunnel is near Castle Black. They climbed the wall away from any manned outpost. In the last episode, Jon told them which outposts had members of the Watch so they could avoid them.

Re: the torture scenes with Theon and (moderate book spoilers ahead)

Both for me too. It seems like the show runners are treating this mystery like it's "Who Killed Laura Palmer" and frankly I don't give a fuck which previously-mentioned, never-before-seen tertiary character is perpetually torturing a secondary character who is (seemingly) completely removed from the main story and one I have no vested interest in.
Actually I kind of liked the scene where he lead Theon back to the same torture chamber (since I didn't see that one coming), but since then it's been completely useless waste of precious screen-time. I honestly have more interest in dueling rabbit-skinning techniques.

Good thing she was sitting to the left of Jamie.

Remember when Arya Arry fled King's Landing with a bunch of unknown, tertiary characters? That went nowhere too. She's was alone then before Gendry, Hot Pie, Lommy, and Yoren yet somehow they made a season out of that.

The differences are that I cared/care about what happened/happens to Arry/Arya, and he/she seemed/seems central to the main story.

Which story is the main story again? Theon sacked the ancestral seat of The North. Bran and Rickon are believed dead effectively wiping out the Stark name should Robb die or have no sons. Theon himself is the last rightful male heir to The Iron Islands. Of course he matters. You may not like him, but that doesn't mean his story shouldn't be aired just because it's perceived as stagnant.

I watch each week and absolutely hate the Theon segments. The character is a spineless, sniveling, lost individual. I have no vested interest in his outcome, and I have been given no information about where he is (sorry, but sigils and veiled clues don't count), who is torturing him, or why I should care. Aside from a reference to his actions and the status of the young Stark boys none of the character have mentioned him all season. Between 5 coworkers/friends we all are equally bored and frustrated with these scenes week in and week out.

Will be interesting to see what Jamie does to help Brien next.

Wall scene was intense. Do we have any indication how long the wall stretches?

Joffrey is back in the running for top ass, but Littlefinger deserves to be next to him since he out Roz there. Oh, and Arya is clearly a better shot with a regular bow to boot.

If it weren't for smoke monster baby I might actually like red devil witch in this episode.

Hope the blacksmith is okay. He's a proven fighter. I feel like he could have gotten out of that situation.

Don't care for the Theon torture scenes.

I'm still waiting for Reek to show up.

It runs about 300 miles. Castle Black is roughly in the center.

Right... I mean left!

"Bathroom break" scenes? Folks, it's 2013. Invest in DVR.

They are making far more of Theon than the books did. I think they already have more than enough scenes with Theon and the "mystery moron". Just go ahead and name the little shit.

The stuff that Theon is going through is heading somewhere.

From my knowledge of the books, I know, more or less, what's going on there, and I'm assuming that the identity of Theon's captor will be revealed by the end of the season.

They've been holding onto that secret for a while, and I think I know the reason why.

Not sure I agree:


That said, I can see why it was necessary for purposes of dramatic economy, I just think it's one area where the book is superior.

JasonF points out in his spoiler an issue I had with this episode, so I'll quote it, because it's not actually a spoiler.
I'm not entirely sure how much time has passed since she left Stannis looking for someone with royal blood but it didn't seem like enough time to cross that amount of land (assuming I know where the Bw/oB is). I'm willing to overlook the "how she found them" for the simple fact that as Arya points out "[she's] a witch!" The Lord of Light is presumably guiding her there, a benefit our interrogators at Harrenhal didn't have. I wonder if she was directed to find Gendry personally, or just that she knew there'd be someone the LoL needs at that particular location.