Directed By: Michael Slovis / Written By: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss

Original Airdate: April 19, 2015

After a long voyage, Arya Stark arrives in the Free City of Braavos and goes to the House of Black and White but is refused admittance. In Meereen, a Son of the Harpy who murders an Unsullied is arrested as Daenerys Targaryen orders that he stands trial. In the Vale of Arryn, Brienne of Tarth finally comes across Sansa Stark at a local inn, who makes it clear in front of Petyr Baelish that she is not in need of protection. In Dorne, Ellaria Sand wants Doran Martell to seek revenge for the death of his brother Prince Oberyn. Meanwhile, in King's Landing, Cersei Lannister takes charge of the small council and her brother Jaime sets off for Dorne to collect their daughter Myrcella Baratheon.

main cast

braavos

After a long voyage across the Narrow Sea, Arya Stark arrives at Braavos. with the ship captain Ternesio Terys. Arya is awestruck by the giant statue of the Titan of Braavos, which, according to the captain, would wake and protect the city whenever Braavos stood in danger in the old times. Arya replies it's just a statue but in that exact moment a loud blast from inside the Titan announces their arrival, startling her, but she convinces herself that she is not afraid. Terys then rows Arya past the large fishing market when they eventually arrive at the House of Black and White, where he claims she may find Jaqen H'ghar, “the man you seek”. Arya knocks on the door of the House of Black and White and lingers outside waiting for admittance. The sole entrance to the temple is a door, one-half ebony, the other pale weirwood - thus one black door and one white door. The door opens by a hooded man as Arya pulls out her coin stating that Jaqen had given her this and was sent here by him. The elder taciturn man rejects her despite showing the coin and mentioning their prior association. He informs her that there is no one by that name here. Before shutting the door on her face when Arya shouts that she has nowhere else to go he responds in saying that she has everywhere else to go. Arya waits outside the House for days, at times through pouring rain, endlessly reciting the names of the people she wants to kill, but eventually tosses away her coin and wanders off into the streets of Braavos. 

Some time later, while hunting for pigeons in the city, Arya encounters several boys who intend to take her sword Needle from her. Although she is more than willing to kill them, the boys scatter when the old hooded man from the House of Black and White appears again behind her. After following him back to the House, Arya assertively demands to know his identity, and he returns to her the coin that she had thrown in the water. In this moment the old man peels back his face to reveal another face underneath, the visage Arya had previously known him as — that of Jaqen H'ghar. When she irritatedly asks why he said there was no Jaqen here, he insists he is in fact not Jaqen H'ghar, but "no one," as all Faceless Men are are “no one”. Jaqen tells Arya she must learn to be no one as well, as he opens the door for her. Arya has been granted entry into the House of Black and White, a temple dedicated to the Many-Faced God, serving as headquarters to the guild of the Faceless Men assassins.

the vale of arryn

In the Vale of Arryn, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne have arrived at a local inn at the same time as Sansa Stark and Petyr Baelish, but cannot see each other across the room. However, the rouse is designed to catch Lord Baelish off-guard so she can ask about the raven-message he received back at Runestone during Robin Arryn’s training. Baelish commends Sansa, stating that she has grown to be an observant lady. Sansa informs Baelish that her late mother, Catelyn Stark, use to quote the old saying "dark wings, dark words," typically an urgent message carrying bad news. Baelish, however, doesn't answer the question beyond indicating that the old saying doesn't apply in this instance. From across the room, Podrick eventually spots Sansa and Baelish, as Brienne then commands Podrick to ready the horses while she goes to confront them. Sansa tries ale for the first time and informs Littlefinger that she doesn’t understand what the fuss is about. When Baelish declares that it gives men courage, Sansa inquisitively asks whether it gives him courage. They are interrupted by Brienne, who formally introduces herself, though Littlefinger assures her that remembers meeting her at Renly Baratheon’s camp before his murder. After interrogative questioning, Brienne defends herself to Baelish and informs Sansa that Stannis Baratheon was responsible for Renly’s murder. Brienne then declares to a distrusting Sansa of her sworn vow to Lady Catelyn, though Littlefinger then points out how Brienne failed to protect both Renly and Catelyn. Brienne asks Littlefinger why he should have any say in Sansa’s affairs, as he reports that he is now her uncle, having married her aunt Lysa Arryn before her death. A wary Sansa eventually denies Brienne's request of her protection while Baelish then urges that she stay at the inn, as the roads are not safe. Seeing this as a trap, Brienne escapes the inn with Podrick on horseback. The pair are chased through a forest, as Brienne fights off guards from the Vale. Podrick is eventually thrown off his horse in the river when accidentally splitting up from Brienne. After his horse deserts him, Podrick is nearly attacked but Brienne comes to his rescue in time. Brienne quickly tells Podrick to find his horse, as they will continue to pursue Sansa and Baelish. However, Podrick mentions that if both Stark girls have now denied her request for protection, perhaps she can be free from her vow to Lady Catelyn. Brienne doesn’t accept this, asserting her doubt that Sansa is safe with Littlefinger, to which Podrick eventually agrees with.

the flatlands

Meanwhile, south of Essos, Tyrion Lannister and Lord Varys have departed from Pentos in a large wheelhouse pulled by several horses. Tyrion remains despondent, and as he promised, he is continuing to drink himself into a stupor. Varys explains that they are travelling to Meereen by way of Volantis. He then points out that Tyrion was an effective ruler when he was the acting Hand and that each of them were outsiders due to their deformities, a eunuch  and a dwarf. They enjoyed accumulating power, he says, but they also wall themselves off from others, like hiding inside of a large carriage as they are now - but deep down they were never satisfied being separate from society. Tyrion is unmoved from his depression, and continues to insist that he's tired of being confined in a box of some sort. Varys again warns him that he must remain hidden and that it is unsafe to be seen publicly as his sister Cersei Lannister has promised a lordship to any man who brings her his head. Tyrion scoffs and rhetorically asks if Cersei is going to kill every dwarf in the world in the hope of eventually catching him.

DORNE

Down the road from Sunspear, the capital of Dorne, Ellaria Sand stares out into the lush courtyard of the Water Gardens, the home of House Martell. She disdainfully witnesses Prince Doran Martell’s son, Trystane Martell, and Cersei’s daughter, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, as they affectionately walk through the gardens together, very much in the throes of young love. Ellaria then rudely demands an audience with Doran Martell, the wheelchair-bound ruling  Prince of Dorne and her deceased lover Oberyn Martell’s brother. His bodyguard, Areo Hotah, blocks her path, yet Doran tells him to let her pass. She bitterly informs Doran that Oberyn’s daughters, the Sand Snakes, will avenge him while he himself sits in his chair and does nothing. She then asks to take Myrcella so that she can send the princess piece by piece to Cersei as revenge for Oberyn's murder. Doran refuses, reminding her that, although he loved his brother, Oberyn had participated in a trial by combat, and therefore his death was legal, and not murder. He states that Dorne will not stoop to the level of mutilating children while he rules, even if Oberyn’s daughters and trained fighters are siding with Ellaria. Sneering, Ellaria rhetorically asks him how long he expects to rule for before storming out. Hotah and the Prince exchange a look as she departs, the former meaningfully indicating his axe, but Doran shakes his head and returns his attention to the Water Gardens as he contemplates his next move.

THE CROWNLANDS

In King's Landing, Cersei Lannister summons her brother Jaime Lannister to their late father's Tywin’s office and reveals a "gift" from Dorne: an ornately carved viper, with Princess Myrcella's unique Lannister pendant suspended from its fangs. She insists it is a threat against Myrcella, a conclusion Jaime can't refute. Cersei lashes out at Jaime for not being a father to any of his children, to which he points out that if he had been, their children would be stoned in the streets. He declares he will fix the situation with Myrcella and ignores Cersei's mocking of his one-handed status. Afterwards, further north in the Crownlands at Castle Stokeworth, Bronn is spending time with the vapid and newly-betrothed Lollys Stokeworth. They seem to get on relatively well, but when Lollys reminds Bronn that her older sister will get the castle when their mother dies, he wryly assures her that mean people like her sister usually get what's coming to them, clearly setting his sights on the castle. Jaime Lannister finds the couple, and reveals to Bronn that Cersei has reneged on her deal and offered Lollys' hand to Ser Wyllis Bracken instead. Bronn is understandably furious about the change of arrangements until Jaime tells him that if he helps rescue Myrcella from Dorne, Bronn will receive a much better girl than Lollys, who has rights to a much better castle.

Some time later, Cersei is presented with the severed head of another dwarf. Her offer of a lordship for Tyrion's head has motivated people to start killing any dwarf they can find and try to pass it off as Tyrion. Cersei is irate and wants the head disposed of, however, Qyburn interjects and asks if he can keep the head, as it might be of use in some of his "experiments". With that issue dealt with, Cersei then convenes the small council in the Tower of the Hand. Sitting in the Hand's seat, she announces that her son King Tommen Baretheon has declared Qyburn the new Master of Whisperers and that the position of Hand of the King will remain vacant until he is older and can decide for himself. Tommen has also decided to make Lord Mace Tyrell the new Master of Coin in addition to his duties as Master of Ships. The king also extends a newly-made position of Master of War to his great-uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister. Although Mace preens at his new responsibilities, Grand Maester Pycelle is outraged at Qyburn's promotion as he was thrown out of the Order of Maesters for conducting human experimentation. Cersei’s uncle Kevan is disgusted with her blatant power play and refuses the new position, denouncing Cersei as nothing more than the Queen Mother, further berating her for abusing her authority to fill the small council with her sycophants. He then walks out, saying he will await King Tommen's own instructions - from Casterly Rock.

castle black

Meanwhile, Princess Shireen Baratheon teaches Gilly how to read in Castle Black's library, apparently to Samwell Tarly's chagrin. Gilly asks about Shireen's greyscale scars, revealing that the wildlings don't really have a word for it and that two of her sisters contracted it and were driven mad by the disease, before Craster put them out of their misery. Queen Selyse Baratheon interrupts the proceedings and dismisses Samwell and Gilly. Once in private Selyse then lectures Shireen on the dangers of spending time with any wildlings, since they could conceivably use Gilly to harm King Stannis through Shireen. Shireen, however, doubts that that's how things will go. In his quarters, Stannis Baratheon himself discusses Jon Snow's recent defiance in granting a quick death to Mance Rayder. Stannis then shows Jon a message he received from Lady Lyanna Mormont of Bear Island, in response to the demand that House Mormont pledge itself to Stannis' cause. The note refuses, declaring that the Mormonts know only one king, the King in the North, and will only follow a Stark. Jon tells Stannis that, like the wildlings, the Northerners will only follow one of their own. Realizing that his southern-born Baratheon name could be preventative to a growing alliance, Stannis makes Jon an enticing offer: if he leaves the Night's Watch, Stannis will use his authority as king to officially legitimize him as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell. With his title, Jon can rally the North to Stannis' side and resume the fight against the Boltons, Freys, and Lannisters. Jon doesn’t answer but is visibly moved at the prospect of having his lifelong dream finally come true.

Afterwards, the Night’s Watch meet for the choosing for the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Before the meeting commences, Jon shares his news with Samwell and admits to him that he plans to turn Stannis’ offer down, staying true to his vows to the Watch. As the meeting is underway and overseen by Maester Aemon, Janos Slynt nominates the acting Lord Commander Alliser Thorne and another brother names Denys Mallister, Commander of the Shadow Tower. The vote almost begins before Samwell interrupts to put forward a third nomination: Jon Snow. Following Sam’s rousing speech, the votes are cast and a tie is called: Snow and Thorne have garnered an equal number of votes. With a wry smile, Aemon then casts his own vote. The Black Brothers officially hail Jon as the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

meereen

In Meereen, Daario Naharis and Grey Worm find a house belonging to a Son of the Harpy, whom is allegedly responsible for the Unsullied soldier’s death. Daario explains that he has been using the Second Sons as spies, since the mercenaries are far less conspicuous than the Unsullied. He notes to Grey Worm that his Second Sons overhear things that the Unsullied do not because they blend in with the local population and can indulge in the same vices as their informants. Daario is also able to deduce where a member of the Sons of the Harpy was hiding because he also understands fear, while the Unsullied do not. With this, Daario indicates his men's effectiveness by stabbing his dagger through a false wall and injuring the Harpy who is hiding behind it. Afterwards, at the Great Pyramid, Queen Daenerys Targaryen and her council debate executing the Harpy, but the debate devolves into a shouting match between Mossador and Hizdahr zo Loraq. Mossador is insistent on the execution of the Harpy, declaring that they only understand blood, not mercy or fair trial. Regardless, Ser Barristan Selmy advises restraint in this situation. After Daenerys dismisses everyone aside from Barristan, he recalls her late father King Aerys Targaryen. Barristan confirms that, contrary to what her late brother Viserys told her, Aerys was indeed quite mad, setting entire towns ablaze, murdering sons in front of their fathers, and burning men alive with wildfire. He cites how Aerys’ crimes against House Stark ultimately led to Robert’s Rebellion, which destroyed the Targaryen dynasty. Mollified by the revelation, particularly that her crazed father always thought his atrocities were serving justice, Daenerys promises Ser Barristan that there will be a trial for the accused.

Some time later, feeling pressure from the other former slaves, Mossador goes against Daenerys' order and organizes the execution of the Harpy, leaving the body on the streets underneath a blood-smeared message stating “kill the masters”. Mossador is then brought before an angered Daenerys, as he pleads for mercy when explaining that he interpreted her decision on the matter to mean that her hands are tied. Mossador notes that he set her free in having to deal with the situation and stresses that the Sons of the Harpy cannot put the slaves back in chains. Despite his pleas, Daenerys decides to sentence Mossador to death, stating that killing the Son of the Harpy broke the law. A crowd gathers to witness Mossador's execution and Daenerys tells the crowd that when she conquered Meereen she promised freedom and justice, but one cannot exist without the other. Daenerys has him brought out in chains before the crowd, and warns all Meereenese citizens that freed slave or Great Master, not to pervert the course of justice. Mossador pleads for forgiveness, as Daenerys stares out to the scores of citizens begging for his release. She takes a moment before commanding Daario to cut off his head. The freedmen of Meereen begin to hiss at Daenerys for her actions against Mossador. When riots quickly begin to spread between the freedmen and the masters, Daenerys is quickly escorted away by the Unsullied. Daenerys retreats to her chambers where she wants to spend time alone. She steps out onto her balcony for a moment of peace and is surprised to find her missing dragon Drogon landing atop the Great Pyramid, now the size of a small house. Daenerys is elated to see him and tenderly tries reaching out for him, which she hasn't done for some time. Drogon sniffs her outstretched hand, and while he doesn't attack her, he flies away again. Daenerys is left heartbroken as she gazes at Drogon flying in the distance.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki