Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones has wrapped its explosive third season, and while the finale isn't as crazy as last week's "Red Wedding," lots of loose ends are tied up, and we do get caught up with just about every character. There are homecomings, imminent rescues, and some fallout over the Starks being killed. Daenerys also has a big moment in the sun, which gives me hope for her role in season four — and hopefully her position on the Iron Throne.

This finale may not be the most exciting episode of the season, but there is still a lot to muse over, like the desecration of Robb's body, Arya's anger, and Ygritte's heartbroken revenge. Let's break it down after the jump.

This week, everyone was talking about the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, whether you read the books first or only watch the series. Even if you don't watch, the big Red Wedding was unavoidable — and just may end up being the biggest episode of the season. In case you were trying to keep up with all the coverage, we have it all rounded up right here.

• We recapped the episode's big moments — do you remember that other stuff that happened aside from the Red Wedding?
• You can watch a clip here of the episode and our next-day reaction.
• The Game of Thrones cast expressed their emotions about the wrenching episode, and even author George R.R. Martin weighed in.
• Speaking of reactions, here's how we've felt about this season, expressed in GIFs.
• We asked if you thought the Red Wedding was more shocking than Ned's beheading. The results are kind of shocking!
• The Red Wedding made our list of the craziest moments of season three — check out the rest!

This week's ultrashocking Game of Thrones episode, aka the "Red Wedding," depicts the deaths of Robb, Catelyn, and many more, and it hasn't just caused an outcry from fans of the show — the actors behind the characters have also been sharing their reactions. Richard Madden and Michelle Fairley, who play Robb and Catelyn, have chimed in with how they felt about the episode, and young Maisie Williams embraced Vine in a funny way for her reaction. And the Game of Thrones god himself — writer George R. R. Martin — has also spoken to answer the question on everyone's lips: whyyy? See what they have been saying in interviews and on social media below!

George R. R. Martin (the author)
Author Martin told Entertainment Weekly why he sacrificed Robb.

"I killed Ned in the first book and it shocked a lot of people. I killed Ned because everybody thinks he's the hero and that, sure, he's going to get into trouble, but then he'll somehow get out of it. The next predictable thing is to think his eldest son is going to rise up and avenge his father. And everybody is going to expect that. So immediately [killing Robb] became the next thing I had to do."

Martin also made an appearance on Conan this week, where Conan O'Brien showed Martin a bunch of fan reactions to the huge episode. Martin's response? "Now you know why your nerdy friends were depressed 13 years ago."

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)
Williams posted a Vine of herself in character as Arya, goofing off a little with her reaction.

Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark)
Fairley told Vulture she thought the red wedding was more shocking than Ned's beheading:

"I think so, because it's not just one person, it's practically a family. It's the number of deaths as well, and the sheer brutality of them, too."

Richard Madden (Robb Stark)
Madden admitted on a conference call with reporters he bawled after shooting his last scene.

"I cried the whole way. I was the crazy boy on the plane crying at about midnight, landing in London."

The third season of HBO's hit series Game of Thrones is coming to a dramatic end on Sunday, June 9, at 9 p.m., but just because Winter is over doesn't mean the battle over the Iron Throne has to be.

Since Summer is coming, HBO and location-based app Foursquare are teaming up to bring you Game of Cones, an intense challenge between ice cream parlors (or should we say . . . houses) for the Iron Throne, er, Cone.

The most popular destinations for sweet creamy treats in San Francisco and New York are participating, including Bi-Rite Creamery and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. Support your favorite local jaunt by checking into your ice cream shop of choice between June 7 and the first day of Summer, June 21, and include the hashtag #GameofCones. The shop with the most check-ins will win the Iron Cone.

Find leaderboards, house sigils for your favorite parlors, and more at gameofcones.foursquare.com. But before you join in on Foursquare's fun summertime festivities, answer this: if each house in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series could only be represented by one flavor of ice cream, what flavor would it be? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.