At the end of the last episode, Jon Snow was caught by Craster (Robert Pugh) as he learnt what happens to the man's sons. Now, he's dragged back to the camp and Craster tells the Lord Commander (James Cosmo) that they have to leave. Jon tells the Lord Commander what he saw, but he already knows. Offering your sons up as offerings to the White Walkers is apparently the norm north of the wall and when you're a source of information, the Black Watch ignore any indiscretions like that. As they prepare to leave, Samwell (John Bradley) shares a final moment with Gilly (Hannah Murray), giving her the only thing he has of his mother's, telling her to keep it safe for him.
In Winterfell, Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) is still dreaming that he's a dire wolf. He tells Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) about it and about the stories Old Nan used to tell him. Bran is convinced that they're more than just dreams but Maester Luwin tells him that he once believed in magic and tried to cast spells when he was younger, to no avail. Dragons and giants may have existed once, but they don't any more, he adds.
Finally we see Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) again. Only this time, something's different: he's married. To his lover's sister, of all people. He and his new wife, Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), watch as Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) duels with a much bigger warrior. Catelyn Stark arrives in time to see Loras yield to his opponent, who is revealed to be a woman: Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). He grants her a wish and she asks to join his King's Guard, pledging her life to him. It's an unusual request from a woman but he grants it all the same. Catelyn is introduced and Renly promises to bring her Joffrey's head. Loras makes disparaging comments about Robb and his army which she dismisses. Renly escorts her to her accommodation, boasting about the size of his army. She is unimpressed, telling him that his army is one of summer: young and untested, especially for the coming winter.
Back on the Iron Islands, Theon has an awkward moment with his sister, Yara (Gemma Whelan) as he chastises her for not telling him who she was before he groped her. She replied that she wanted to see who he was first. Their father (Patrick Malahide) enters and tells them of his plans: while Robb Stark is engaged in the south, they will raid villages and towns across the northern coast before launching an invasion, taking the north and laying siege to the only fortress that he expects will put up any significant defence, Winterfell. Yara is put in charge of thirty ships and tasked with taking Deepwood Motte, the castle of House Glover, allied to House Stark. Theon is put in charge of a single ship and told to raid fishing villages on the Stony Shore. Outraged and offended, he tells father that it would be better to work with the north than risk being defeated again. Balon reminds him of their words, "We do not sow" and tells him that they do not ask, they take, adding that his time with the Starks has made him weak. Upset, Theon tells him that he did not volunteer to go, he was given away and is now being cursed for coming back. His father hits him and stalks off and his sister tells him to make his choice.
Shae (Sibel Kekilli) is bored. Tyrion keeps her hidden in his chambers from prying eyes. He tells her he needs to hide her from his sister and other prying eyes because she is his weak point. Meanwhile, Queen Cersei forces Sansa to make awkward small talk with her soon-to-be step-brother and step-sister Tommen (Callum Wharry) and Myrcella (Aimee Richardson). Back in her quarters she meets her new handmaiden, Shae. She's useless but Sansa has her brush her hair anyway. Tyrion, meanwhile, is weaving his web. He meets with Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover), Petyr Baelish and Varys (Conleth Hill) in turn, telling each of them that he plans to marry off Myrcella Baratheon in order to forge alliances to help them in the war. He tells Pycelle that she will be married to Trystane of House Martell; he tells Baelish that she will be used as a means to mend their relationship with Lysa Arryn by marrying Robin Arryn and he tells Varys that she will be married to Theon Greyjoy to win the allegiance of the Iron Islands. He insists to all of them that the Queen must not know.
Back down south, Renly Baratheon is getting it on with a Tyrell. Not the one he should be, though. Loras tells him that he should be sleeping with his wife, not his lover so that he can put an end to the rumours about him and father an heir. Margaery takes Loras' place and the two try to get it on but Renly can't get it up. She's very understanding and offers to bring Loras in to get things started. Renly tries to act shocked but she tells him that he doesn't need to lie to her but he does need an heir, however it happens.
As expected, Queen Cersei has found out about Tyrion's plan and it was Grand Maester Pycelle who told her. She objects to his plans to send her off to House Martell but apparently that was Tyrion's plan all along. They need House Martell's allegiance to win the war and he tells her that Myrcella will not be safe in King's Landing if the war does not go their way.
Back on the Iron Islands, Theon has written a letter to Robb Stark telling him of his father's plans to invade the north. He hesitates over it before changing his mind and burning it. Outside, on the beach, he pledges himself to the Drowned God in front of his father and sister.
Having uncovered Tyrion's plot, Baelish tells him that he does not like being made a fool of. He asks to be left out of Tyrion's next plan but Tyrion has a plan for him anyway - he wants him to convince Catelyn Stark to release his brother Jaime. They are interrupted by Bronn (Jerome Flynn), who takes Tyrion to Pycelle's chambers. He confronts the Grand Maester about his deception, who insists that he only serves House Lannister. Tyrion has his beard cut off and asks if he poisoned Jon Arryn. Pycelle insists that he serves House Lannister but Tyrion has him hauled off to the dungeons all the same. Later, Tyrion meets with Varys who asks if he should be worried, noting that the Small Council is growing smaller every day. Tyrion replies that he will not go the same way as his predecessors. Varys poses him a riddle about power, saying that it resides where men believe it resides and adding that a small man can cast a very large shadow.
Finally, we catch up with Arya and the "recruits" for the Black Watch. Arya cannot sleep and Yoren (Francis Magee) tells him how he came to join the Black Watch, by killing the man who killed his brother. They are interrupted by men from the City Watch looking for Gendry. Yoren refuses to hand him over and fights against the overwhelming numbers, killing several before he is overpowered and killed. The recruits fight and flee but are quickly rounded up. One of them takes Needle from Arya and uses it to kill a young recruit with a crossbow bolt through his leg who demanded to be carried. The commander demands to know who Gendry is. Arya steps forward and tells them that the recruit who was just killed was Gendry, pointing out the bull's head helmet which the recruit had stolen in the panic.
I wondered last week if there were too many characters and storylines and this week we basically concentrate on just three characters: Tyrion, Theon and Renly, with brief glances at Jon Snow and Arya. I hope they haven't bitten off more than they can chew but, for now, it still works. This feels like the last episode before things really kick off - we've met the new characters, we've been re-introduced to all the old ones and the various usurpers and rebels have their armies assembled. It's the deep breath before the plunge and I hope that it isn't a false start. Another episode without major plot advancements and it's going to start wearing thin. But like I said, for now, it's still working. Tyrion's tightening his grip over King's Landing, Theon's loyalties are wavering and Renly seems to be able to raise armies more easily than he can his manhood when in the presence of his wife. I was sorry to see Yoren die, I liked him. I was also sorry to see Theon apparently abandon House Stark although I suspect that, as usual, all is not as it seems.
8 out of 10.
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