With all the stuff that suppose to happen and them saying its gonna be a 4 season show, I'm starting to get the feeling they might rush some things, consolidate or leave some things out. Because really of the events to come, I can say at least one of them should have happened this season but HBO got bitchy with them about the budget axing the show from 10 eps to 8. Now maybe they still wouldn't have put it in this season even with 10 because I feel like they still could have done it 8 if they wanted to (you trim a lot Daemon/Harrenhall stuff from this season among other things) but I don't think it bodes well for the future the way they've done the first two seasons pacing wise. I also don't think its entirely budget related either. If you watch those "Making of" things at the end of the episodes, I get a sense the staff are up their own assholes a bit.