The new 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 tenth episode of season two, “Valar Morghulis.” Spoilers for the entire series, but for this episode in particular.

1. Tywin certainly has style, riding his horse right on up to the Iron Throne. If my horse shit in the entrance to the throne room, I’d probably die of embarrassment.
2. The Tyrells played the game of thrones well, didn’t they? Pity for them that Cersei played by a different set of rules.
3. The bit with the Stark soldiers always chills me, because it reminds me that there’s both good and bad characters fighting on every side of this war.
4. You should really listen to your mother, Robb. Breaking your promise will cost you everything.
5. Melisandre knows so much and yet so little.
6. Poor Maester Luwin. Such a good, kind-hearted man did not deserved to suffer the way he did.
7. Tyrion really should have taken Shae up on her offer to run off to Pentos. He ends up there eventually anyway.
8. I could never wrap my head around the House of the Undying. I found it to be one of the strangest parts of the entire series.
9. I get that Arya’s storyline with the Faceless Men in Braavos was important for developing her character, but a part of me just grab her by the shoulders and warn her that Jaqen is going to be a real headache for her.
10. Luwin protecting Bran and Rickon until his last breath makes me tear up every time.
11. As if Luwin’s death wasn’t enough to make me sad, now we have Daenerys experiencing an illusion of Drogo and Rhaego. Why are you so cruel, GRRM?
12. Although watching the little dragons burn Pyat Pree did cheer me up a little. One of the few deaths on the show I actually enjoy.
13. Qhorin was so brave, sacrificing himself so that Jon would have a better chance of surviving.
14. The reaction of the Dothraki when Jorah tells them to “Take all the gold and jewels” is hilarious. They must have been getting antsy, having been on their best behavior the whole time in Qarth.
15. We finally get our first clear view of a White Walker. What a way to end the season.

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