Game of Thrones: The Ghost of Harrenhal First Watch
April 24, 2015 10:24 AM - Season 2, Episode 5 - Subscribe
Confusion in the Stormlands. Catelyn joins with a new ally. Tyrion uncovers a hoarded secret weapon. Jaqen H'ghar offers Arya a gift. Theon attempts to prove himself. The Night's Watch arrives at the Fist of the First Men. Daenerys receives advice and a marriage proposal.
--
Ser Jorah Mormont: [to Daenerys]: "You have a good claim: a title, a birthright. But you have something more than that: you may cover it up and deny it, but you have a gentle heart. You would not only be respected and feared, you would be loved. Someone who can rule and should rule. Centuries come and go without a person like that coming into the world. There are times when I look at you, and I still can't believe you're real."
--
Longer Summary (contains spoilers)
- In The Stormlands: King Renly Baratheon agrees to Catelyn's request that he ally himself with Robb Stark. He is then promptly assassinated by Melisandre's Shadow Monster in front of Brienne, who is blamed for regicide. Brienne flees with Catelyn and later swears fealty to her. Renly's army disintegrates. House Tyrell's forces flee to Highgarden with Baelish. Renly's bannermen join forces with Stannis. Ser Davos challenges Stannis and convinces him to leave Melisandre behind during the attack on King's Landing. Stannis places Davos in command of his fleet.
- In The Riverlands: Harrenhall: Tywin hosts a war council. Arya serves as cupbearer. Her accent gives away her noble birth. Tywin doesn't know her identity, but asks about her origins and opinion of Robb. Later, Jaqen H'ghar, now a Lannister man-at-arms, tells her that in saving his life and those of his fellow prisoners (in ‘What is Dead May Never Die,’) he now owes her three deaths and will kill three people of her choosing. "Now Arya can take advantage of her nighttime prayer list of 'douchebags to kill some day.'" ... "Across the country, viewers jump up on the couches yelling 'Joffrey!'" But instead she names the Tickler, who soon dies of a broken neck.
- In King's Landing: Tyrion brings news of Renly's death to Cersei and predicts Stannis will attack King's Landing. He also attempts to discuss plans for the city's defense, but she refuses. Lancel tells Tyrion that Cersei has been meeting with the Alchemists' Guild. He visits Wisdom Hallyne of the guild and learns they have stockpiled thousands of jars of Wildfire, a dangerously flammable substance, to use as catapult ammunition. Bronn warns that this strategy could be disastrous and result in panicking defenders accidentally burning down their own city. Tyrion orders Hallyne to answer to him instead of Cersei.
- At Pyke and In The North: Theon takes command of a new ship whose crew believes he is untested. He raids Torrhen's Square in the North, and draw the remaining forces of House Stark from Winterfell, led by Ser Rodrik Cassel.
- At Winterfell: Bran leads his subjects but continues to be troubled by dreams. He confides Osha that he has been dreaming of a three-eyed raven, and of the sea flooding Winterfell and drowning his people, including Ser Rodrik.
- Across the Narrow Sea, in Qarth: Daenerys enjoys Xaro Xhoan Daxos' hospitality. The warlock Pyat Pree invites her to visit the House of the Undying. Quaithe delivers a warning to Ser Jorah Mormont that Daenerys' must protect her dragons from those who would take them from her. Xaro offers to fund Daenerys' invasion of Westeros in exchange for her hand in marriage. Jorah's privately cautions against accepting financial aid and reveals how he feels about her. She does not reciprocate.
- Beyond the Wall: Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's rangers arrive to the Fist of the First Men and rendezvous with scout Qhorin Halfhand's group. Qhorin warns Jeor about Wildling King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. He suggests sending a small party ahead to neutralize Mance's lookouts in the Skirling Pass. Jon Snow joins Qhorin's group.
--
Dagmer: "They're not gonna respect you until you prove yourself."
Theon: "And how am I supposed to prove myself by pillaging piss-poor fishing villages?"
Dagmer: "You're not."
Theon: "And yet that's the task my father has given me, to prove that I'm a true Iron Islander."
Dagmer: "They're all Iron Islanders. Do they do as they're told, or do they do as they like?"
--
Introduced in this episode
Characters
* Hallyne, head of the Alchemists' Guild in King's Landing. He is in charge of the city's stocks of wildfire and concerned with other fire-related matters.
* Lorren, a famous Ironborn raider
* Quaithe, sometimes called Quaithe of the Shadow, a mysterious woman encountered by Jorah Mormont in Qarth. Like Melisandre, Quaithe is a shadowbinder from the fabled city of Asshai in the far east of Essos, and seems to wield magical powers of prophecy and clairvoyance.
* Qhorin Halfhand, senior ranger of the Night's Watch
Locations
* The Fist of the First Men, an ancient ring fort deep in Wildling territory north of the Wall, located at the crown of a defensible round hill with an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. Ranging parties from the Night's Watch use it to orient themselves and also as a possible fallback position in case of combat with the Free Folk. It can only be reached by a steep climb on stony ground. It has served as a natural defensive position since the time of the First Men. (Not added to credits)
--
Tyrion: I remember reading an old sailor's proverb. Piss on wildfire and your cock burns off.
Hallyne: "Oh, I have not conducted this experiment. It could well be true."
--
Notes from here and here.
* This is the first episode that did not feature nudity.
* This episode marks the death of King Renly Baratheon. His death reduces the number of factions in the war to four: Joffrey, Robb, Balon and Stannis.
* For the first time since she left Pentos, Daenerys is brought up to speed on the current political situation in Westeros, including the death of Robert Baratheon, and the fact that four rival kings now vie for the throne (word of Renly's death and Balon's ambitions has not yet reached across the Narrow Sea).
* Daenerys says "Dracarys" to Drogon to encourage him to breathe fire. Dracarys (pronounced "drah-KAH-ris") is the High Valyrian word for dragonfire.
--
Arya: "You should stand sideface."
Gendry: "Sideface?"
Arya: "Sideways."
Gendry: "Why?"
Arya: "Smaller target."
Gendry: "Am I fighting someone?"
Arya: "You're practicing for a fight. You should practice right."
--
Ser Jorah Mormont: [to Daenerys]: "You have a good claim: a title, a birthright. But you have something more than that: you may cover it up and deny it, but you have a gentle heart. You would not only be respected and feared, you would be loved. Someone who can rule and should rule. Centuries come and go without a person like that coming into the world. There are times when I look at you, and I still can't believe you're real."
--
Longer Summary (contains spoilers)
- In The Stormlands: King Renly Baratheon agrees to Catelyn's request that he ally himself with Robb Stark. He is then promptly assassinated by Melisandre's Shadow Monster in front of Brienne, who is blamed for regicide. Brienne flees with Catelyn and later swears fealty to her. Renly's army disintegrates. House Tyrell's forces flee to Highgarden with Baelish. Renly's bannermen join forces with Stannis. Ser Davos challenges Stannis and convinces him to leave Melisandre behind during the attack on King's Landing. Stannis places Davos in command of his fleet.
- In The Riverlands: Harrenhall: Tywin hosts a war council. Arya serves as cupbearer. Her accent gives away her noble birth. Tywin doesn't know her identity, but asks about her origins and opinion of Robb. Later, Jaqen H'ghar, now a Lannister man-at-arms, tells her that in saving his life and those of his fellow prisoners (in ‘What is Dead May Never Die,’) he now owes her three deaths and will kill three people of her choosing. "Now Arya can take advantage of her nighttime prayer list of 'douchebags to kill some day.'" ... "Across the country, viewers jump up on the couches yelling 'Joffrey!'" But instead she names the Tickler, who soon dies of a broken neck.
- In King's Landing: Tyrion brings news of Renly's death to Cersei and predicts Stannis will attack King's Landing. He also attempts to discuss plans for the city's defense, but she refuses. Lancel tells Tyrion that Cersei has been meeting with the Alchemists' Guild. He visits Wisdom Hallyne of the guild and learns they have stockpiled thousands of jars of Wildfire, a dangerously flammable substance, to use as catapult ammunition. Bronn warns that this strategy could be disastrous and result in panicking defenders accidentally burning down their own city. Tyrion orders Hallyne to answer to him instead of Cersei.
- At Pyke and In The North: Theon takes command of a new ship whose crew believes he is untested. He raids Torrhen's Square in the North, and draw the remaining forces of House Stark from Winterfell, led by Ser Rodrik Cassel.
- At Winterfell: Bran leads his subjects but continues to be troubled by dreams. He confides Osha that he has been dreaming of a three-eyed raven, and of the sea flooding Winterfell and drowning his people, including Ser Rodrik.
- Across the Narrow Sea, in Qarth: Daenerys enjoys Xaro Xhoan Daxos' hospitality. The warlock Pyat Pree invites her to visit the House of the Undying. Quaithe delivers a warning to Ser Jorah Mormont that Daenerys' must protect her dragons from those who would take them from her. Xaro offers to fund Daenerys' invasion of Westeros in exchange for her hand in marriage. Jorah's privately cautions against accepting financial aid and reveals how he feels about her. She does not reciprocate.
- Beyond the Wall: Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's rangers arrive to the Fist of the First Men and rendezvous with scout Qhorin Halfhand's group. Qhorin warns Jeor about Wildling King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. He suggests sending a small party ahead to neutralize Mance's lookouts in the Skirling Pass. Jon Snow joins Qhorin's group.
Dagmer: "They're not gonna respect you until you prove yourself."
Theon: "And how am I supposed to prove myself by pillaging piss-poor fishing villages?"
Dagmer: "You're not."
Theon: "And yet that's the task my father has given me, to prove that I'm a true Iron Islander."
Dagmer: "They're all Iron Islanders. Do they do as they're told, or do they do as they like?"
--
Introduced in this episode
Characters
* Hallyne, head of the Alchemists' Guild in King's Landing. He is in charge of the city's stocks of wildfire and concerned with other fire-related matters.
* Lorren, a famous Ironborn raider
* Quaithe, sometimes called Quaithe of the Shadow, a mysterious woman encountered by Jorah Mormont in Qarth. Like Melisandre, Quaithe is a shadowbinder from the fabled city of Asshai in the far east of Essos, and seems to wield magical powers of prophecy and clairvoyance.
* Qhorin Halfhand, senior ranger of the Night's Watch
Locations
* The Fist of the First Men, an ancient ring fort deep in Wildling territory north of the Wall, located at the crown of a defensible round hill with an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. Ranging parties from the Night's Watch use it to orient themselves and also as a possible fallback position in case of combat with the Free Folk. It can only be reached by a steep climb on stony ground. It has served as a natural defensive position since the time of the First Men. (Not added to credits)
Tyrion: I remember reading an old sailor's proverb. Piss on wildfire and your cock burns off.
Hallyne: "Oh, I have not conducted this experiment. It could well be true."
--
Notes from here and here.
* This is the first episode that did not feature nudity.
* This episode marks the death of King Renly Baratheon. His death reduces the number of factions in the war to four: Joffrey, Robb, Balon and Stannis.
* For the first time since she left Pentos, Daenerys is brought up to speed on the current political situation in Westeros, including the death of Robert Baratheon, and the fact that four rival kings now vie for the throne (word of Renly's death and Balon's ambitions has not yet reached across the Narrow Sea).
* Daenerys says "Dracarys" to Drogon to encourage him to breathe fire. Dracarys (pronounced "drah-KAH-ris") is the High Valyrian word for dragonfire.
Arya: "You should stand sideface."
Gendry: "Sideface?"
Arya: "Sideways."
Gendry: "Why?"
Arya: "Smaller target."
Gendry: "Am I fighting someone?"
Arya: "You're practicing for a fight. You should practice right."
--
I always wanted to see the scene between Stannis and the Lords of the Stormlands following Renly's death. I just think it would be so interesting to see the rigid Stannis dealing with these Lords who should've been his from the outset (in his mind), alongside their shock at the sudden death of Renly. We never get it, in either show or book and I guess it is because it really adds nothing but flavour to the narrative - we get to see the dramatics of Renly's death, but the aftermath is really just Stannis getting his army.
I still think it could be a great moment for the characters of Davos and Stannis to see this scene through the eyes of Davos, but I get why it's not done.
posted by nubs at 11:16 AM on April 24, 2015
I still think it could be a great moment for the characters of Davos and Stannis to see this scene through the eyes of Davos, but I get why it's not done.
posted by nubs at 11:16 AM on April 24, 2015
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Please do not reveal spoilers for subsequent episodes from any source.
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posted by zarq at 10:26 AM on April 24, 2015