I have no words. Holy ****.
I am struggling to find a single weak point in this episode. Incredible. Definitely edges out Baelor for best episode of the series. I just cannot believe that what I just saw was TV.
Also:
--> The knight who struck Tyrion was ser Mandon Moore, a member of the Kingsguard. I don't think he's been mentioned yet in the series - in order to avoid potential future spoilers, I'm going to cut it there, however. You'll have to figure out the rest on your own.
--> Spoiler-free background on the Rains of Castamere (which I've hid in case people don't like background info on events that transpired before the beginning of the series): when Tywin Lannister was a teenager, two rivals houses decided to rebel against House Lannister, led at the time by Tytos Lannister, Tywin's father. These two houses were respectively House Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall and House Reyne of Castamere. Tywin - still a teenager - led a retaliatory attack against both houses. Not only did he win, he also exterminated the whole Reyne/Tarbeck families. To a man. House Tarbeck and House Reyne were completely extinguished. A few years later, when another lord grew truculent with House Lannister, Tywin did not send him a message, but a minstrel, who sang 'The Rains of Castamere' to him. The lord did not grow truculent ever again. Basically, it's the "Don't **** with Tywin Lannister" (or with House Lannister) theme song. Aside from that, I would strongly, strongly advise against googling the song. Or even glancing at a single Youtube comment. This thing is a minefield for spoilers.
--> Lena Headey was fantastic. Jack Gleeson was wonderful (that look of his when he decides to retreat to the Red Keep - fully aware that he's a coward and ashamed of it... brilliant!). Sophie Turner definitely raised her game for the second season - a pity for her that she plays a relatively unlikeable character, bc she's doing a good job with the role! Dinklage was, as usual, exceedingly good - and I really like Dillane and Cunningham's take on their respective characters. Hell, even Shae managed to impress me this ep (which is a first, I believe)! It was just fantastic!
--> We now know where Tyrion inherited his swagger. The way Tywin just strolled in the throne room was glorious!
They didn't so much rebel as they kept borrowing gold and refused to pay Tytos back and when Tytos went to Castamere to offer them one of his children (maybe Tywin specifically)'s hands in matrimony they laughed in their faces and refused. Then Tytos died and Tywin made an example of them so no one would think to laugh at the Lannisters anymore.
--
When you've got a pretty-boy monkey on your back constantly calling you a puppet, you hardly want to seem like you're happy to be used. - DSakaCharanJ