Directed By: Michelle MacLaren / Written By: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss

Original Airdate: May 4, 2014

In King’s Landing, Tommen Baratheon is crowned King as Tywin Lannister informs his daughter Cersei of the financial necessity to maintain their relationship with House Tyrell. In Meereen, Jorah Mormont advises Daenerys Targaryen of Joffrey's death as they contemplate attacking King's Landing by sea. She’s also informed that the freed slaves in Yunkai have now been re-enslaved by their old masters and a coup in Astapor is forming as well. Meanwhile, Sansa Stark and Littlefinger arrive at the Eyrie where he introduces Sansa as his niece Alayne, though her aunt Lysa Arryn is aware of her true identity. Beyond the Wall, Jon Snow returns to Craster’s Keep to deal with the mutineers, who now hold the captive Bran Stark and Reed siblings.

main cast

the riverlands

While on the road in the Riverlands, young squire Podrick Payne proves to be a hindrance to Brienne of Tarth, as he still hasn’t adjusted to riding horseback with confidence. When Brienne asks if he was ever taught to ride a horse, Podrick informs her that there wasn’t much call for riding when squiring for Lord Tyrion Lannister. Afterwards, around a campfire, Podrick accidentally sets fire to a rabbit he were cooking. An aggravated Brienne attempts to get rid of Podrick by releasing him from the vow that he swore as her squire, but to no avail. The pair are bound for Castle Black, where Brienne believes Sansa Stark may have taken refuge with her half-brother, Jon Snow. Brienne then questions Podrick about his duties as squire to Tyrion. Pod notes that his job was mostly pouring wine, alongside other menial tasks. Brienne then queries if Podrick did anything related to combat, who reveals how he killed Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard by shoving a spear through his head during the Battle of the Blackwater in order to save Tyron’s life. After hearing this, Brienne softens and grants Podrick a bit of respect, allowing him to assist in removing her armor.

Meanwhile, in the Riverlands and on the road towards the Vale of Arryn, Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane are at camp for the night before continuing their journey. As Arya stares into the fire she recites the names of everyone on her kill list. When the Hound asks her to “shut up” she insists that she cannot sleep until she recites the names. The Hound softens as he mentions that hate is as good as anything to keep a person going and that they can both cross a name off a list if when they come across his brother, Gregor Clegane, also known as The Mountain. As Sandor is insistent to get some sleep Arya asserts that she has one more name to recite before finishing. After a long pause she turns her back to go to sleep and recites Sandor’s name. The following morning, Arya and Sandor are sparring with their swords, as well as their mouths when verbal jabs are continually struck towards each other. In particular, when the Hound disparages Arya's water dancing technique and then insults her deceased Braavosi teacher, Syrio Forel, for being defeated by a glorified thug like Ser Meryn Trant. Arya defends Syrio and then jabs Sandor’s armor with her sword. He then slaps her to the ground and flings one more barb towards her when handing Arya back her sword, as he then scoffs at the miniature size of it.

king’s landing

Meanwhile, in the throne room of King’s Landing, Tommen Baratheon is crowned king of the Seven Kingdoms on the podium in front of the Iron Throne to enthusiastic applausee. After the ceremony Cersei Lannister meets with Margaery Tyrell along the gallery of the hall. Margaery compliments Tommen by saying he sits on the throne as if born to it. Cersei enquires whether Margaery still mourns for the deceased Joffrey Baratheon, which is met with a polite response. Cersei then admits to Margaery that Joffrey would have been her nightmare and goes on to comment on the things that he has done has shocked her. However, she informs that no matter what they do you never love a child moreso than your first. Cersei ponders who the last decent king was and asserts that Tommen could be the first man in over 50 years that deserves to sit on the throne. Margaery suggests that this could be consolation for all the horror that put him there. Cersei then requests Margaery’s help, as if to make a peaceful gesture towards her, saying that “a mother is not enough”. Remaining wary, however, Margaery comments on the fact that she soon won’t know what to call Cersei, “sister or mother”, much to Cersei’s chagrin.

Some time later in the small council chambers, Tywin Lannister reveals to his daughter Cersei  their problem with the Iron Bank of Braavos, as Lady Olenna Tyrell had previously warned him. They unfortunately owe “a tremendous amount”, and the gold mines of the Westerlands actually ran dry three years ago. Therefore, even though Tywin admits the Lannisters can trust nobody except themselves, he is insistent that they need the Tyrells' wealth and resources on their side. Cersei suggests coming to some arrangement with one of the Bank’s representatives, but Tywin dismisses the idea, since the Bank is a monolithic structure that cannot be avoided, cheated or swayed. Tywin insists they need the Tyrell’s investment in the crown more than ever, implying that Margaery is to remain Queen by now marrying Tommen. When the topic of Tyrion’s imprisonment circles around, Tywin informs that while as a mother Cersei has every right to discuss the matter, however, as he will be one of the presiding judges he cannot discuss the impending murder trial with her. She informs her father that she respects that and there is no need to discuss it. However, before leaving, she then coldly replies to Tywin and asks him to ponder what her brother Tyrion deserves for lighting the Lannister legacy and their future on fire, still insistent that he is the culprit who poisoned Joffrey.

Later on, in the gardens of the Red Keep, Prince Oberyn Martell is writing poetry on his parchment when Cersei requests a coversation. Oberyn admits that while he’s not a very good poet he learned from one his daughters, adding that he has eight kin. Upon discussing his family Oberyn mentions his deceased sister Elia Martell, to which one his daughters was named after. Cersei ponders that even as he’s a legendary and feared fighter of high station he still couldn’t save his sister as she likens her own experience of losing her son. Oberyn then tries to ascertain whether Cersei truly believes her brother murdered Joffrey. When he mentions that through the trial they will learn the truth, Cersei responds by saying “we will have a trial anyway,” insinuating that truth isn’t necessarily the result of a trial. Cersei then asks Oberyn of a favor as she hasn't seen her daughter, Myrcella Baratheon, in over a year. Cersei asks him to have someone sail a new ship made for Myrcella down to Dorne since she missed her last  nameday. Prince Oberyn promises to have the ship sailed down to the Dornish capital of Sunspear for Myrcella. Cersei then softly asks Oberyn to let her daughter know that “her mother misses her very much.”

meereen

Over in Essos, in her new headquarters atop the Great Pyramid of Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen learns of Joffrey's death and his brother Tommen's coronation. She then is irritated to learn that  Daario Naharis has captured Meereen's navy without her explicit orders to do so, but mulls over the possibility of setting sail for Westeros and taking the capital with her 8,000 Unsullied soldiers and 2,000 mercenaries of the Second Sons. Ser Barristan Selmy is optimistic about their chances, believing that old Westerosi families will flock to their cause once Daenerys crosses the Narrow Sea, swelling their numbers. Ser Jorah Mormont, however, is less enthusiastic and explains that while 10,000 troops should be enough to take the capital from its exhausted defenders, there's still the rest of the continent of Westeros to worry about. Her advisors then reveal more troubling news: the Wise Masters of Yunkai have bounced back and re-enslaved every freed man, and although the former slave city of Astapor remains free, the council that Daenerys installed has been deposed by a butcher named Cleon, who is staging a coup. Daenerys dismisses everyone but Jorah and muses that her plans are in shambles. He reminds her that she is the last Targaryen and the Mother of Dragons, but Daenerys insist that she needs to be more than that. She laments that if she cannot keep order in three cities, she has no hope of controlling the Seven Kingdoms come the time. When Jorah asks what her plan of action will be Daenerys states that she is resolved to remain in Meereen and "do what queens do" by ruling.

the EYRIE

Sansa Stark and Lord Petyr Baelish arrive safely in the Vale of Arryn. Upon their arrival at the Bloody Gate, Baelish introduces Sansa to the guards as his niece “Alayne”. Inside the Eyrie, Sansa tries to slip into her alias, however, Lady Lysa Arryn insists not to bother hiding around her own flesh and blood. Lysa laments Sansa's treatment in the capital, though ignoring her niece's attempts to defend Tyrion Lannister's character. Robin Arryn is delighted to see Petyr, while his mother reminds him never to reveal Sansa's identity. The moment Robin escorts Sansa to her chambers, Lysa insists on marrying Littlefinger immediately, claiming that they already had a wedding night many years ago. She then references poisoning her former husband Jon Arryn's wine and framing the Lannisters, using these actions as proof of her love for Petyr. This act of treason was the catalyst for the events that led Sansa, Arya and their father Eddard Stark to King’s Landing, which started the war between the Starks and Lannisters. Littlefinger is unable to deter Lysa’s wishes, particularly when she reveals that a septon and witnesses have been waiting outside the main door. A delighted Lysa declares that she will scream so loudly that night that they will be able to hear her across the Narrow Sea. Later that night, an exasperated Sansa attempts to sleep, as Lysa tries to fulfil that promise in consummating her marriage.

The following day, Lysa has a meal with Sansa, who indulges herself, though Sansa becomes a self-conscious when Lysa begins telling stories of her late sister Catelyn Stark’s eating habits during their youth. Lysa encourages Sansa to keep eating, as Petyr had three crates of lemons brought from the Crownlands just for Sansa's cakes. She also rants about Catelyn's initial affections for Sansa’s uncle Brandon Stark and how he once nearly killed Petyr. Lysa suddenly degenerates from a kindly aunt into a psychotic newlywed, half-mad with jealousy, when demanding to know why Petyr cares so much for Sansa. Lysa demands to know if Sansa has slept with him, like his whores have. A horrified Sansa insists that she is still a virgin and that Baelish thinks she's just a stupid girl who doesn't know anything. Lysa then immediately relents and comforts Sansa, assuring her that she believes her, and that since neither Petyr nor Tyrion have slept with her, Sansa can proceed to marry her cousin Robin. Sansa seems unsure of what to make of this information, as tears roll down her face when pulled into a hug with Lysa.

craster’s keep

On the outskirts of Craster's Keep, Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch arrive to deal with the mutineers, as planned. New recruit Locke volunteers to scout around the keep for the traitorous party they were sent to eliminate. During his reconaissance, Locke finds the hut where Bran Stark, Hodor and Jojen and Meera Reed are being held captive. Inside the hut Jojen’s greensight takes over and he envisions Bran at the great weirwood tree and insists that they have to make it to the tree and this capture is not the end of them. When Meera then asks “how do we know the end?”, Jojen responds by saying “you’ll know”, as his right hand goes up in flames without as much of a flinch from him. He stares at it curiously and almost peacefully. Reporting back to Jon Snow, Locke tells them that only eleven traitors are present and most of them are drunk. He also lies about the hut where Jon's brother Bran and his group are being imprisoned. Believing Locke, Jon agrees and tells the party they attack at nightfall.

Later that evening, the drunken mutineer Karl Tanner enters the prisoners' hut and attempts to rape Meera, but her brother Jojen distracts Karl when he reveals his possession of greensight and then claims to have seen Karl dead before the night is out. At that moment, the mutineer Rast rushes in to warn Karl the keep is under attack as Jon Snow's and his party swiftly rush through the defenses. Amidst the chaos outside, Locke slips into the tent and attempts to abduct Bran for his own personal gain and with intention to hand over the Stark heir to Roose Bolton at the Dreadfort. However, as Locke carries him outside Bran wargs into Hodor and uses Hodor’s body to kill Locke, who is strangled to death. After Bran exits Hodor’s mind, Hodor then runs back into the hut to free the Reed siblings while Bran spots his brother Jon fighting the mutineers. Yearning to reunite with Jon cries out his brother’s name but he is too far away to be heard amidst the battle. The Reeds them join Bran and Jojen prevents him from going to his brother, reminding Bran that they must continue onward to reach the three-eyed raven. Bran reluctantly leaves Jon, though he is comforted in seeing the Night's Watch swiftly overcome their enemies. He instructs his party to free his direwolf Summer and continue their journey beyond the Wall.

Leaving the conquered battle outside, Jon finds Karl Tanner inside the keep and confronts him in single combat. Karl's use of dirty tactics learned in his criminal past gives him the upper hand. Before he can finish off Jon, however, one of Craster's wives named Sissy stabs Karl from behind. When Karl rounds on her, Jon gets back to his feet and drives his sword Longclaw  through the back of Karl's skull, killing him instantly. In the aftermath of the battle, four brothers of the Night's Watch, including Locke, are found dead, while all the traitors but one are accounted for. Locke's true intentions were never discovered by Jon. The sole surviving mutineer, Rast, runs in terror through the forest until he reaches the cage where Ghost was held. He notices someone has opened the cage but before he can absorb this, the direwolf lunges out of nowhere and kills him. Ghost then finds his way back to Jon, who is overjoyed to see his companion again. Speaking to Craster's wives, Jon warns them that Mance Rayder's army and worse besides will soon reach their location and offers to take them to safety south of the Wall, but the women refuse, preferring to set out on their own and to burn Craster’s Keep to the ground. Before departing back for Castle Black, Jon, Eddison Tollett, Grenn and Craster’s wives watch the Keep burn, symbolizing the Watch’s defeat as well as the liberation of the women who suffered at the hands of Craster and the mutineers.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki