I was rereading AGOT and was surprised by the idea that came up more than once that Robb could have stayed in Winterfell – and given control of his army to Theon Greyjoy. I don’t think this was brought up as a hypothetical in your CBC analysis, but could that really have been a credible option? A Greyjoy leading the North (with the likes of Roose Bolton)? And what effect would that have had on what happened subsequently?

It’s absolutely not a credible option. The North would not march behind an Ironborn hostage, let alone a teenager, let alone a prick like Theon. Catelyn was dead wrong about that – it took Robb’s very personal intervention to keep the Umbers, Glovers, Boltons, etc. in line.

The only, only way for Robb to stay in Winterfell is if he sends a scratch force a la Roddy the Ruin and then comes later, and that didn’t work out very well last time.