Good review!  Another thing not mentioned was the hot paramedic lass that Jon Snow chats for quite awhile with.  I've read that - in a plotline that apparently doesn't take place in the books - they're giving Jon a love interest; my guess is this was her.

 B? Really? Isn't B reserved for OK episodes of Merlin? GoT is so far and above anyhting on TV in this genre, calling it a B (even relative to itself feels odd). 

Not Jon Snow with the girl chirurgeon but that was Robb.  I was a little disappointed with the throne scene where Sansa is beaten. I would have expected a more enraged reaction from Joff.  The Renly/Stannis showdown was a let down also. Was hoping that Renly was going to draw out the peach to further vex his brother.

I am finding that with the second season they have been making a lot more variations from the source than they did in the first season, and losing something along the way. GoT is still tops on my viewing list, but I am a little worried

Zalder: I don't understand what you are talking about with Arya? Her being at Harrenhal is exactly where she ended up in the second book.

DougRed4 and bjordson: Robb does have a romance and gets married in the books, but it wasn't given any detail. They are just fleshing it out.