You know, I've been enjoying the series up until this week - and I might as well admit it, I still somewhat enjoyed this episode, and will presumably go on to enjoy future episodes - but Episode 4 is a big mess of an info dump. And all that stuff you're talking about is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore; when I find myself going, 'But really, [such & such usually female character] is far more badass in the books', you know you're in trouble.

I've been especially puzzled with the lack of plotty-schemery going on, since (from my not entirely attentive) readings of the books, that's pretty much what I recall: machinations on a global scale. I'm waiting for the show to lift off...

em