For one, there’s arguably the first significant departure from the books in the scenes where Melisandre meets up with the Brotherhood and takes Gendry away for some undoubtedly nefarious purpose. The show has changed things from the books before – or, more accurately, it’s streamlined them – but even when the journey was somewhat new you could always tell that the destination was going to be as intended. With this development, it’s difficult to say whether this will be the case, and that makes it particularly exciting.

Less exciting and more just frighteningly twisted is what’s happening to Theon Greyjoy, who is still being held and tortured by a mad-eyed Iwan Rheon. Rheon’s character still hasn’t been given a name yet, and we know nothing about him – and yet we know everything about him. He’s cruel, capable and more than a little crazy.

He’s torturing Theon not for information, nor for revenge, but simply for fun, and as horrific as the skinning of Theon’s little finger is, you suspect that this may only be the beginning. Theon may not have made the best choices in life, but he doesn’t deserve this.

No sword-fights this week, but who needs one when we’ve got the sharp, well-matched duel of words between Lady Olenna and Tywin Lannister? It’s a wonderful scene between the two old pros – that’s in terms of both actors and characters – as they discuss everything from old age, to the incest between Jaime and Cersei and Loras’ homosexuality. Dianna Rigg has been a welcome addition to Season 3, and her character continues to be a barbed joy in every appearance.

Meanwhile, Jaime Lannister negotiates a release from Roose Bolton, but Brienne – looking more intensely uncomfortable than usual in a ghastly pink dress – isn’t going with him. The pair have become somewhat reliant on one another in recent weeks, as they’ve alternated saving each other’s lives, while these days Jaime can’t even cut his own dinner up without her help (and the line of the episode goes to Lord Bolton, as he warns Jaime about “not over-playing his… position.”, where the word “hand” is left unsaid, but hangs heavy as lead over the dinner table). How will they cope if the double-act is split?

There’s more awkwardness down in King’s Landing as Loras and Sansa – who think they’re to be wed – sit discussing their dreams of weddings. It’s exceptionally uncomfortable, as Sansa doesn’t realise that Loras is gay, nor that she’s actually to be wed to Lannister dwarf Tyrion, and Loras to vindictive Queen Cersei.

Tyrion and Cersei have been two characters in positions of power over the course of this show, but now they’re as helplessly trapped as everyone else; subject to the whims and wishes of father and Hand Lord Tywin, who has now condemned four people to abject, marital misery.

Speaking of weddings, Robb sets about building bridges with Walder Frey, as he arranges to marry his uncle Edmure to one of Frey’s daughters, in place of himself. So many weddings, and not one of them wanted. Yet there is some genuine romance at play.

North of the Wall and tubby Sam Tarly – with a clear example of Chekov’s dragonglass dagger – bonds with wildling girl Gilly, and even sings her a song. It’s very sweet, and it feels like the first time we’ve seen Sam smile in a long time. He may still be wandering aimlessly through the frozen north, but it’s amazing what the company of a good woman can do, eh?

And as for Jon and Ygritte; have they become the first great romance of Game of Thrones? Sure, we’ve had Robb and Talisa, but that never quite connected. It was smaller, and more personal; this feels like a great, world-spanning, forbidden romance, the kind of which you don’t often see any more.

Jon Snow is so out of his depth, both when it comes to playing double-agent with the wildlings and with Ygritte. Ygritte seems to know that he’s never truly abandoned the Night’s Watch, but she doesn’t care; as she details, they’re both just expendable pawns in a much bigger game; all they really have that they can rely on is each other.

The climb up the Wall is a marvel of vertigo-inducing CGI; it’s an excellent sequence, and it’s crowned with that cheesy but well-earned shot of Jon and Ygritte standing atop the Wall. And as they stand there, caught both physically and metaphorically between two worlds, embracing each other in the beautiful golden light of the setting sun at the top of the world… well, sometimes a bit of cheese is okay amid all the torture and death, you know?

Aired at 9pm on Monday 6 May 2013 on Sky Atlantic.

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