The seventh season of Game of Thrones starts July 16.  As a lead-up, I’m re-watching the first six seasons of the show. Below are 15 thoughts I had while watching the ninth episode of season two, “Blackwater.” Spoilers for the entire series, but for this episode in particular.

1. I love this episode. It’s one of my favorites and I’m so glad to be watching it again.
2. Do we really need a shot of a soldier puking into a barrel full of vomit? I swear, sometimes this show is gross just to be gross.
3. I forgot how this episode ended until I saw this scene where Maester Pycelle gives Cersei the Essence of Nightshade.
4. Hearing The Rains of Castamere always unsettles me, even when it’s sung by a bunch of drunks.
5. Renly didn’t believe in Melisandre’s powers, either, Tyrion. That didn’t save his life.
6. The look Shae gives Tyrion when he pretends not to know her name could freeze all the wildfire in King’s Landing.
7. “The worst ones always live.” – Sansa sums up a theme of this series.
8. What Tyrion lacks in height he more than makes up for in cleverness.
9. Drinking makes Cersei even more charming than usual.
10. So not only is Joffrey a sadist and a bully, he’s also a coward.
11. The Hound’s little “fuck the king” line is gold. It’s about time someone said it.
12. “Did she have urgent business with me?” – You’re in the middle of fighting a major battle and you’re worried about what your mommy wants? Joffrey, you are no king.
13. Sansa is more of a queen in one scene than Cersei ever was.
14. The first time I saw this episode, I saw so worried that Cersei was going to poison Tommen. I hate Cersei, but no mother should be forced into a situation where she thinks that killing her child is the best option.
15. The Tyrells show up and save your entire family, Cersei. And how do you repay them?

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