Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 6: "The Climb"

Contrary to what the title of the episode may have you believe, this isn't the Game of Thrones episode where Miley Cyrus guest stars and sings an awe inspiring ballad about womanhood (thank goodness, although Sam gets a song).  Instead, "The Climb" refers to Jon Snow and Ygritte's trek to get to the top of the wall, which is easily the best and most exciting part of this episode.  What else happens in "The Climb"?  Not much, I'm afraid.

The episode starts with a scene of Sam and his "new family" enjoying a cozy fire and talking about their plans.  There will be a lot of scenes like this in the next hour, with characters conversing to each other about what they're about to do.  In between them, we get some exciting scenes of Jon Snow and Ygritte climbing the wall that almost feel like a Discovery Channel survival special.  Meanwhile, Robb convinces his cousin to blindly marry a Frey daughter to make amends for his wrongdoing.  Gendry sadly gets taken away by Melisandre.  Tyrion and Cersei discuss the ramifications of Tywin's plans for their new marriages.  Theon gets mercilessly tortured, again.  

Overall, the episode was somewhat of a disappointment in that it felt like there were no substantial developments, although there were some.  The last shot is beautiful and epic, with Ygritte finally seeing whats on the other side of the wall and sharing a lengthy kiss with Jon.  It comes off as an award for viewers who ultimately had to sit through a slow moving episode.  

- The scene where they skinned the rabbit was pretty disturbing to me, and I don't usually get bothered by any of the violence that happens on the show.

- "He wasn't good to me the way you're good to me.  He didnt do that thing you did with your tongue".  Oh Ygritte...

- "Face. Tits. Balls. I hit them right where I wanted to." A lot of good lines this episode.

- Random thought: Arya and Katniss would be good friends, I think.  

- How ugly are these Frey daughters?

- Poor Jaime, can't even eat a steak properly.

- Loras is the most desirable bachelor in all 7 kingdoms? Muhaha.

- Apparently "The Climb" also refers to Littlefinger's theory on chaos.

- So Joffrey hasn't done anything evil or disturbing lately.  Oh wait...