Olenna Tyrell had the best lines in The Broken Man but Lyanna Mormont stole the show in A Game of Thrones.

I really love grandmother Olenna Tyrell. She's wise, knows how to play the Game of Thrones, and isn't afraid to speak
her mind. Her conversation with Cersei was probably one of the best written that the series has to offer.

So after watching "The Broken Man" on Game of Thrones last night, I'm pleased that the Hound is still with us. "You must be here for a purpose," a priest says to Sandor Clegane. But what purpose? Many readers of the books think it has to do with Cersei's impending "trial by combat" and the fact that her champion will be "The Mountain" and the faith's champion will be "The Hound." It's long been a speculation swirling on the internet. I don't know if I ever really bought into it, or thought that would even be a fair fight (given that I think The Mountain is pretty much unkillable in his undead state). But if anyone ever stood a chance against The Mountain, it's The Hound. Maybe The Mountain is super flammable (a thing that all undead on the show seem to be). If that's true, then that's a weakness The Hound could theoretically exploit (if he even figures out what has happened to his brother). However, it also presents its own set of problems though because the Hound is afraid of fire.

But in my opinion the real star of tonight's episodes were the castles that we got to see. The Mormont castle ruled by a very plucky girl who could devote as much as 62 of her house soldiers to the Stark cause to take back Winterfell was absolutely gorgeous. Next to a waterfall, it reminded me a little of a cross between Winterfell and Rivendell. Add to this the fact that we got to see Riverrun (as beautiful as ever), and the Tarley castle in the previous episode, and I think the only thing left that I really really long to see is Highgarden. It's supposed to be surrounded in fields of roses (and I love roses) and as the seat of one of the greatest houses in Westeros I'm sure it's going to be spectacular.

With the passing of tonight's episode, I think there are only 18 more left in the entire series. The end is coming quick, and I'm curious as to how they plan to tie up all the storylines. Did you have a particular piece from tonight's episode that you liked?

My random observations: I so want Lyanna Mormont to get together with Rickon Stark. I think that's a match made in heaven.

I hope that Arya's storyline doesn't end with her dying due to her wounds inflicted by the Waif. Her storyline has been boring, and she needs to kill the Waif. I think that would please the Many-Faced God and me at the same time.

The Blackfish has no fear of Lannisters. Telling Jaime off and not really caring what happened to Edmure Tulley was very fun.

Sansa is calling for Littlefinger. Oy...I wonder if that's a good thing or not.

Girl power was all over the place in last night's Game of Thrones episode.

Girl power was all over the place in last night's Game of Thrones episode called The Book of the Stranger. So here are my assorted musings.

1) Jon and Sansa! Two Starks in the same room. Getting this family back together again has got to be crucial to whatever end game that this series has in mind. And it was wonderful to see after all the horrible things that both of them have suffered. I also loved that Sansa took charge and pushed Jon to go after Winterfell and Ramsay Bolton (I never thought someone could be worse than Joffrey but Ramsay really takes the cake). I love that Sansa is humble now and realizes how horrible the world really is and that she needs to fight for the good that's left in it. I was also really shocked that they killed off Osha. I think she deserved better, but at least she wasn't made to suffer by being flayed alive.

2) Tormund and Brienne needs to happen. I know she has this thing for Jaime Lannister (do we call it respect?) and Jaime seems to be in love (just a little bit) with Brienne. I like the politely disgusted look she gave Tormund; I sensed pure chemistry.

3) The High Sparrow really needs to die. I'm so tired of his smug expression, his platitudes about his religion, and his general terribleness when it comes to the Tyrells. However, I of course don't trust Cersei's plan. I think she's leading the Tyrell's into a trap in order to get rid of them all. Not sure how that will work out, but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets all the Tyrells snuffed out in short order. Another great house bites the dust.

4) Dany killing off all the Khals was pretty awesome. I wasn't expecting her to burn the temple of the Dosh Khaleen to the ground with everyone trapped in it (including herself). The show has not shied away from examples of her being fireproof. I like it, and I like the fact that she knows how to use it to her advantage. And now she has a khalasar to add to her army of unsullied. I wonder how she's going to view the 7-year agreement that Tyrion worked out with the slave masters?

Anyway, those are my assorted musings. What are yours?