Game of Thrones Round Table: Fanatics, Abominations and Sand Snakes

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This week on Game of Thrones, Cersei screwed up royallyarming a series of religious fanatics and getting young King Tommen caught up in the power struggle. 

Elsewhere, Littlefinger painted a clear picture of what we can expect over the next several episodes, while Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 4 finally introduced the Sand Snakes. Plus, the Sons of the Harpy retaliated and we lost at least one fan favorite character.

Join TV Fanatics Doug Wolfe, Lindsay MacDonald, Amanda Wolf, Jim Garner and Hank Otero as they discuss the Faith Militant army, Littlefinger's prediction, the Sand Snakes and plenty more in this week's Round Table...

Do you think Cersei made a mistake arming the High Sparrow with the Faith Militant army?

Doug: She made a huge mistake - particularly if she imagines she can exert any kind of control over them, and especially over the High Sparrow. True believers can only be trusted to follow the dictates of their dogma. Kings, queens and laws all take second place at best. This action of hers is going to come back to bite her hard.

Lindsay: Absolutely. They are officially out of her control, even if she doesn't see it now. If these radicals get it in their heads that it's time for Westeros to be ruled by a theocracy instead of a monarchy, Cersei could be in some serious trouble.

Amanda: If their goal is to purify the the world according to the faith, I think Cersei is pretty screwed. Some people seem to think Tommen is an abomination.

Jim: I think her goal was to create chaos and drive a wedge between Tommen and his new bride. It certainly seems to have worked as Tommen is too meek to take action at this point.  

Hank: I agree with everyone, what a massive mistake Cersei just made. I'm surprised she didn't think beyond her current hatred of Margaery and the implications of the Faith Militant dishing out justice all over Westeros. I mean, they were shut down for a reason right? I'm with Doug, this misstep is going to backfire big time.

Did you feel bad for King Tommen, caught in the power struggle between his mother and new wife?

Doug: I think poor Margaery forgets that the king is still just a little boy. Cersei doesn’t, however. No, I don’t feel bad for him. He is ultimately just a pawn best played by the one who knows the game the best. Score one for Cersei in this episode, though her victory is a Pyrrhic one at best.

Lindsay: I do feel bad for him, but with every new episode, we see how ill-suited Tommen is to be king. He's not a monster like Joffrey, but he's too easily swayed by his 'advisers.'

Amanda: I do feel bad for him. There is no one around him that he can trust.

Jim: I feel horrible for him, those are two powerful women who know how to play him like a drum and they both are trying to one-up the other... poor guy's not going to know what time of day it is by the time they get through with him.  

Hank: I don't feel bad for him, he needs to grow up quick and I think he took a first step this week. He's not a bad kid, but as Doug said he's just a pawn and there's no way he's making it out of the game alive. Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5 is titled "Kill the Boy," which doesn't bode too well for him.

Cersei at Work - Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 4

What were your thoughts on Littlefinger's prediction? Will Stannis take Winterfell and ultimately the Iron Throne?

Doug: The plan is a good bet, but it’s hardly set in stone. While Littlefinger may have accurately predicted what a good campaigner would do, he forgets that there’s a puppeteer pulling his strings - Melisandre. Unlike Lord Baelish, I wouldn’t wager anything on it. Sansa may well be on her own.

Lindsay: I agree with Doug, Melisandre is the wild card that's going to end up toppling the whole Stannis plan. Still, it's nice to see Sansa plotting a takeover of her own for once. I've been waiting for her to dip her toes into the political waters for a while now!

Amanda: I think Stannis is the wild card. What if his army just can't win the war? What if he isn't tactical enough? He did lost the Battle of Blackwater after all. Cersei and the royal family still have a lot under their control.

Jim: I think Littlefinger has the right odds, but as the others have pointed out, there are some wild cards, let's not count John Snow out as a wild card either, he may yet break another tradition.  

Hank: The predicition is solid, but I have a feeling Stannis will fall. I've never imagined Stannis Baratheon sitting on the Iron Throne, so I think his days are numbered. Will he take a few of the Bolton's with him? Sure, but I seriously doubt Stannis will survive this season.

Share your first impression of the Sand Snakes. Do they pose a real threat to the Lannisters?

Doug: They’re certainly impressive, in the way that Oberyn Martell was impressive, right before his skull was crushed. I think they have a fighting chance, now that Tywin is no longer in the picture, but once again, I wouldn’t place odds on their success.

Lindsay: I'm not worried. They lack the charming appeal that Oberyn held last year, so any victory they win against Jamie (or heaven forbid Myrcella) won't really have the same oomph. Still, it's nice to see an all-lady fighting squad gearing up for battle.

Amanda: They give off a formidable impression, but they are family so I am not convinced they can't be swayed to back down.

Jim: They certainly talk a big game, the problem they are going to run into is that Bromm doesn't care about any type of honor or code when he fights, so he is just as likely to stab a woman in the eye as to kiss her.  

Hank: I'll be honest, their big introduction was slightly hokey. I didn't find myself instantly drawn to them the way I was drawn to Oberyn. That might have something to do with the fact I'm not wild about Ellaria Sand either. I expect they will cause some trouble, but I'm not sure they pose a real threat.

The Sons of the Harpy made their move. How will Daenerys appease them and did we lose Ser Barristan and Grey Worm?

Doug: I’m pretty sure we lost Ser Barristan. Grey Worm may still be with us, I don’t know. Dany’s first response will be one of rage, as Grey Worm was one of her favorites. I have no idea how she’ll stop the Sons of the Harpy, but my first thought is that she’ll have no intention of trying to appease them.

Lindsay: I'm so upset about Ser Barristan, because yes, I think he's donezo. Grey Worm is definitely still kicking though, which is some consolation. I think Dany is going to let her anger get the best of her, which could set her up to make a very bad, aggressive move. Hopefully Tyrion makes it to her on time and she accepts his help. This sounds like the kind of situation he would excel in.

Amanda: I am going to disagree and say that both of them make it out of this alive. I am hoping that scene was just for shock value and now Dany can put Daario to work.

Jim: As much as I would love to agree with Amanda, this is Game of Thrones we are talking about, so I think Doug and Lindsay are correct and Ser Barristan is done, I'm 50/50 on Grey Worm, but I have hope that he survived.  

Hank: I agree that Ser Barristan is a goner, but Grey Worm might have survive. However, I don't think Dany is going to let her anger get the better of her. Tyrion will arrive in the nick of time and talk her down. She might even re-open the fighting pits to calm some of the unrest.

Check out the teaser for Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5, which airs this Sunday, May 10.

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Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 4 Quotes

Melisandre: Winterfell was your home once. Don't you want to chase the rats out of it?
Jon: Castle Black is my home now. The Night's Watch take no part in the wars of the seven kingdoms.

Cersei: In the days before the Targaryens, the Faith Militant dispensed the justice of the seven.
High Sparrow: Well, the Faith Militant was disarmed more than two centuries ago.
Cersei: If I explained their holy purpose to my son, the king, I have no doubt he will sign a decree arming the believers you felt worthy.
High Sparrow: An army that defends the bodies and souls of the common people?
Cersei: An army in service to the Gods themselves. And to you, of course, as the chosen representative of the seven.