I hadn't considered that, but yes, Dormer would have been fantastic. I'm having some trouble warming to Melisandre (gods that was a terrible pun). She's not at all how I imagined her in my mind. On the page she was beautiful, but terrible. And red. She was a priestess, not a whore. Her power was in her faith and not her sexuality.

What is interesting to note, though, is that Sansa & Cersei have virtually identical hairstyles at the dinner scene. This is most likely done to drive home the parallels between the two women. Cersei sees some of her own past situation in Sansa's current predicament (in an arranged marriage) – yet she also enjoys needling her further, as if she is thinking "I was miserable, and I will therefore make sure *you* are just as miserable, or more".

Agreed, Hilary; I actually meant to comment on Allen's performance, and forgot. Theon is such a weasel that I can't say I'm rooting for him, but Alfie Allen is making him a fascinating character to watch. (It was great casting—something at which this show excels. Before Theon ever opened his mouth back in Episode One, you could tell there was something wrong with this guy.)

(While we're talking about actors and casting, I can't help but wonder if they considered Natalie Dormer for Melisandre; she's a great Margaery, but I feel like she would have destroyed as Melisandre.)