Season three is now more than halfway over, and tensions in Westeros are rapidly growing. The Lannisters are on the brink of self-destruction, the armies of The North are strengthening, and things between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Ygritte (Rose Leslie) are heating up as they trudge through the icy landscape north of The Wall. There are only four episodes remaining in the third season of "Game of Thrones," and next week's, titled "The Bear and the Maiden Fair," will find Westeros in even greater turmoil.
Daenerys was missing from last week's episode, but she's set to return with full force on Sunday. She exchanges gifts with a slave lord outside Yunkai, and we all know how her last trade went. Hopefully this one ends just as fiery as the last.
Towards the end of last week's episode, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) broke the news to Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) that they were to wed. Tyrion introduced the marriage proposal with, "this is awkward," and it resulted in a heartbroken Sansa as she watched her freedom from King's Landing slip through her fingers. In episode seven, Tyrion, Sansa and Shae (Sibel Kekilli) are dealing with the aftermath of the startling news while Sansa "frets" and Shae "chafes at Tyrion's new situation." Meanwhile, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) advises Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) to stop shooting people with his crossbow, probably the most sensible thing we've heard Tywin say all season.
Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is the only Lannister whose future looks bright for once. It appears he may be returning to King's Landing sooner than originally thought. His new friend Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), however, isn't so lucky. The synopsis reveals that "she faces a formidable foe," and based on the episode title, we can all look forward to an epic showdown between two of Westero's most fierce, and largest, warriors.
The next episode of "Game of Thrones" will air Sunday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Watch the promo and read the full synopsis for "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" below.
"The Bear and the Maiden Fair" synopsis: Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) exchanges gifts with a slave lord outside Yunkai. As Sansa (Sophie Turner) frets about her prospects, Shae (Sibel Kekilli) chafes at Tyrion's (Peter Dinklage) new situation. Tywin counsels the king, and Melisandre reveals a secret to Gendry (Joe Dempsie). Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) faces a formidable foe in Harrenhal.