The ravens at Winterfell are all killed so Robb will not get word about his brothers. Riders approach. It's Asha with only fifty men. She asks whether the cripple or the six-year-old gave Theon the greater fight. She calls their running away bravery. She calls Theon stupid, as the boys had value alive. He yells that she hasn't brought enough men and she says she is just there to take him home. He intends to stay so she sends her men away and pleads for him to come home.
The wildlings bring Jon to the “Lord of Bones” who has captured Qhorin Halfhand. Rattleshirt wants to kill Jon, but Ygritte convinces him to leave the decision to Mance. Qhorin tells Jon the others died looking for Jon and says to make sure it was not for nothing.
Talisa asks about the Frey girl. She and Robb discuss the bridge and Ned Stark. He talks about responsibility and fear of being a Lord and protector of all his people. (see quote) One of Ned's men finds them and tells Robb that the Kingslayer has escaped. Robb confronts his mother to ask why. Rickard Karstark gives a diatribe. He wants his vengeance and Cat stole it. Robb puts men to guard her and sends (another) forty men to look for Jaime.
Brienne takes Jaime from his horse, He gets her name and asks a lot of questions (rudely). She tells him he's beyond forgiveness. He taunts her and suggests she unchain him. She puts him in a boat and heads downriver.
Arya serves Kevan and Tywin. Kevan claims King's Landing will fall. Tywin talks about their position. Starks are too close to Casterly Rock. Tywin says they will ride at nightfall. He sends Clegane after the Brotherhood. He's leaving Arya with the Mountain. She runs to find Jaqen. Qhorin says a man inside Mance's army is worth 100 outside. Jon must do what he needs to to get in.
Bronn cleans his nails, much to Tyrion's annoyance. Together they strategize about the defense of King's Landing. Varys comes in and compliments Bronn on the fall in thefts. He has rounded up all the known thieves and … not just given them a talking to... Bronn tells what a city under siege is like—that the fighting isn't what kills most. It is the starving. And thieves take advantage and make it all much worse. They then look at a map and determine the Mud Gate is where Stannis will strike.
Edd, Grenn and Sam dig in the snow. (see quote) Sam asks about Jon and Edd says he is probably dead. They discuss Qhorin—a great ranger but great rangers don't live to be old. Shit ones either. A few in the middle live a long time. Grenn finds something and Sam helps unearth it—a Night's Watch cloak holding a horn and a bunch of dragon glass.
Jaqen finds Arya. She wants Tywin dead but he can't guarantee it right away so she name Jaqen Hagar. He's not amused. She says she will un-name him if he helps her and her friends escape. He says a girl and her friends will walk through the gate at midnight.
Cersei and Tyrion dine together. Cersei wants Joffrey kept safe—says he's not ready. Tyrion points out he needs to be there to inspire the men. She claims to have Tyrion's whore and says anything that happens to Joffrey will happen to her. Tyrion asks how he knows she really has her, so Ser Mandon brings her in... it is Roz. Tyrion promises he will free her.
Tyrion runs to Shae and tells her they need to be more careful. He says he will kill for her—that he will probably need to before the end. She promises “I am yours. You are mine.”
Robb and Roose discuss Winterfell—they've had no word. Roose suggests his bastard can take it back. Robb says to send word that any Iron Born who leaves is free to go except Theon who betrayed him. Talisa arrives and Roose leaves. Robb spills his worries. She sympathizes and the two get to know each other better. She tells him the story of her brother nearly drowning and the decision she made: to not waste her life on parties and masquerades, and once she came of age to never live in a slave city again, as it was a slave who saved her brother. Robb says he doesn't want to marry the Frey girl and the two of them strip and get horizontal.
Hot Pie mourns the cherry pies he's left behind. He, Arya and Gendry stare at the gates and worry about the guards. Finally Arya just walks to them and realizes the guards are dead at their posts. The three walk out.
Davos tells Stannis one more day to King's Landing if the winds hold. They discuss his onion sigil and Davos says he understands why the men look down on him. Stannis said it was Davos who came through for him at the siege at Storm's End. They discuss duty and Stannis says if he wins, Davos will be his hand.
Joffrey tells Tyrion and Varys the Starks are distracted and it is time to strike. Tyrion points out that they are readying defenses because they are about to be attacked. Joffrey claims he will ride out to greet Stannis and give him a “red smile”. When he leaves Varys says “Imagine Stannis's terror.” *snort* They discuss “the game” and Varys compliments Tyrion. Tyrion asks where the god of tits and wine is. Varys then tells Tyrion of Daenerys and her dragons. Tyrion says, “One game at a time.”
Jorah tells Dany he found a ship heading to Astapor. She won't leave her children.
Lewin sees Osha and follows her into the crypts. She tells him how they doubled back. They discuss who the burned boys were as Bran listens.
Notable Quotes
Robb Stark (about Ned): I asked him how can a man be brave if he is afraid. That is the only time a man can be brave, he told me.
Edd: I always pictured myself doing something worse.
Grenn: Digging latrine pits at the edge of the world? I can't imagine much worse.
Edd: You lack imagination.
Tyrion (to Cersei): I will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think you are safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid.
Book Detail
In the SHOW Tyrion never ends up needing to kill for Shae, to my memory, but in the BOOKS he has a singer killed who has written a song about him and Shae (for hands of gold are always cold but a woman's touch is warm). The singer tries to blackmail Tyrion into having him be one of the singers at the Purple Wedding and Tyrion agrees, but Tyrion instead orders Bronn to kill him to end the risk of that song getting out eventually. The lyrics haunt him through the rest of the series.
Review
I always love the show by this late in the season. The action is building to a climax we can almost feel and nearly everything matters. I particularly love the exchange where Arya traps Jaqen into helping with the escape and the confrontation between Tyrion and Cersei where Tyrion has to pretend Roz is the right girl in order to keep Shae safe. Talisa's story is a nice “not in the books” addition to give her a compelling persona and reason Robb would fall for her. I like the book story better, but it is complex enough that I totally understand the shorthand they did here and am glad they gave her such a compelling tale to make us understand why Robb fell for her.
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