The Hound's trial by combat begins. Thoros prays for god to bring justice and Lord Beric sets his sword afire with blood. The Hound flinches and the battle begins. *much fighting and exciting battle* The Hound's shield catches fire and there is a moment of panic where the crowd starts chanting “Guilty” but The Hound slices into Beric's shoulder, winning the battle. Arya grabs a dagger and runs forward, screaming, but is caught around the waist as she yells “Burn in hell!” A calm voice says “He will, but not today” and we realize Beric has been brought back again.
Tormund asks for the pattern for patrolling the wall and how the castles along the wall are manned. Jon and Orell have a pissing match. Jon insists a thousand men man Castle Black (he might be exaggerating). Ygritte steals Jon's sword and runs. He chases her to a cave where she insists he break his vows and undresses. While there is a rumor Jon knows nothing, he seems to know something about using his tongue. Afterward Ygritte teases him about being a maid. She suggests they not go back. She doesn't ever want to leave the cave.
The Hound is sent off with a note instead of his gold.
The Bloody Mummers bring Brienne and Jaime into Bolton's Camp at Harrenhall. Bolton isn't pleased about Jaime's hand. He directs his men to find suitable rooms for them. Jaime asks for news and though Roose draws it out painfully, torturing Jaime, he eventually tells him Tywin prevailed in King's Landing. He sends Jaime to Qyburn. Qyburn suggests taking the arm but settles for just the rotted tissue.
Cersei asks Petyr for help with the Tyrells. Olenna meets with Tyrion over the finances of the wedding. Tyrion notes the expense of the war to which Lady Olenna lists all the Tyrells are supplying. She points out that the people need distraction as well as goods or they will make their own, which would involve tearing the nobles apart. She then agrees to pay for half of the wedding.
Gendry tells Arya he plans on staying with the Brotherhood as their smith. Arya tells him Robb needs smiths, too, but he wants freedom.
Karstark and a handfull of men butcher two teenage Lannister prisoners in their cell. Robb has the men brought in and yells at them. Karstark says it's Catelyn's treason as much as his. He calls Robb the king who lost the north. Karstark is taken to the dungeon and the others hanged. Edmure wants to keep all this quiet. Catelyn and Talissa warn if Karstark is killed Robb will lose his men. They suggest keeping him as a hostage to ensure his men stay with Robb, but Robb pulls a Ned and cuts off his head anyway. Karstark curses Robb before he dies.
Arya says her names before a fire. She asks what they're going to do with her. Thoros says they'll take her to River Run for money. Arya asks how Beric is alive. They tell of the deaths and revivals and she asks if it could be done for a man without a head.
Selyse prays before a fire. Stannis comes. He confesses his infidelity but she poos it off as god's work. She says she wept with joy when she heard then goes to a line of fetuses in jars. She discourages Stannis from seeing his daughter but he insists. Shireen sings (see notes). She rushes to hug her father and asks about the battle and Ser Davos. Stannis tells her Davos is a traitor and he's locked in the dungeon.
Brienne scrubs in a bath and Jaime joins her. He says he doesn't want to be the first Lannister to die in a bath. She says she doesn't care how he dies. He says she was supposed to get him to King's Landing in one piece and says that isn't going so well. She stands up, offended and he apologizes. He calls for a truce, She says for a truce they need trust and he says, “I trust you.” He tells her the story of Mad Aerys and killing him to stop him from burning all of King's Landing. She asks why he never told Ned Stark that and Jaime says Lord Eddard had already judged him guilty. He passes out and she catches him.
Shireen visits Lord Davos in his cell. She asks if he is a traitor and he admits he is. She'd brought him a book, but he can't read so she begins to teach him.
Barristan and Jorah discuss battles. Barristan has spent his life serving terrible kings. Just once he'd like to serve with pride. He asks if Jorah believes in Daenerys. “With all my heart”. Dany goes to meet the Unsullied Officer choice. Grey Worm was picked and we get a history of the names of the Unsullied—changed each day and related to vermin so they cannot form identities. Dany says they can all pick a new name but Grey Worm considers Grey Worm lucky as it is the name he had when Dany freed them. Barristan tells Jorah is reputation has suffered. Jorah points out that Ser Barristan has just joined them—here he is just another exile.
Robb looks at a map in frustration. They've lost the Karstarks. He mourns to Talissa and then shows her the map. As he shows her various places he figures out what he wants to do. He is going to take the Lannister home, but to do it he needs the Freys.
Sansa watches Loras dueling. The squire flirts with Loras and they end up in bed. Oliver is then seen with Littlefinger—this was all part of a plan to learn what the Tyrells have been plotting. Littlefinger finds Sansa looking at a ship. He says he will be leaving soon and she says if may be better for her to wait—safer for him. He is agreeable.
Tywin and Cersei are at the Hand's table when Tyrion joins them. Tywin tells of a plot to marry Sansa to Loras. They have to move before it is made public. They need to find Sansa Stark a different husband. Tyrion. He then says Cersei will marry Loras to put an end to the rumors about her.
New Places and Faces
This is our introduction to both Selyse and Shireen Baratheon and I adore Shireen. Her visit to Lord Davos in particular, there is so much sweetness and a bit of humor. I love this friendship. The books in particular establish her as a lonely child, but Davos is her true friend.
Grey Worm is also introduced this episode and I find the story of the Unsullied that he adds—the name story—compelling.
Notable Quotes:
Lady Olenna: What good is the word extravagant if it can't be used to describe a royal wedding?
Gendry: These men are brothers. They're family. I've never had a family.
Arya: I can be your family.
Gendry: But you wouldn't be my family. You'd be my lady.
Jaime: By what right does the wolf judge the lion?
Book Detail
In the books in that cave there is a story about a man who led some people all the way under the wall by cave, but then the lords on the other side caught and chased them so they tried to go back. Instead they lost their way and they'd been living in the caves ever since—a person could still hear their children if they listened.
The Bloody Mummers: There is an excellent theory that these people, who APPEAR to be sellswords, are actually working as part of the Dornish Master Plan... working for this lord then that, but always in a way that weakens the strongest houses in Westeros, especially House Lannister (being brutal so all the smallfolk hate Tywin, taking Jaime's (the strongest fighter's) hand. If anyone wants to see it argued well, watch this video.
One of the missing characters is Patchface, Stannis's fool and Shireen's constant companion. The reason this is relevant is Patchface is quite mad—lost at sea for three days many years ago, then washed ashore spouting nonsense. His nonsense (sung of course) seems to be prophecy (possibly from the drowned god). Shireen sings some of his songs, but not the ones that make it so clear what the songs are. (Davos ALSO has possibly been saved by the drowned god)
Review
There are a couple truly excellent scenes in this episode. Most notable, the bath scene with Brienne and Jaime. This is where he finally wins her respect—when she learns his greatest dishonor was actually an honorable act. I also really love Arya's quiet discussion with Beric and Thoros and EVERY single time The Hounds asks if the little girl is the bravest one there and Beric says “Aye, she might be” I get chills. This show always really picks up mid season and the third is one of the clearest examples of that... a slightly slow first three, then the pace quickens. I love it.
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