The North Remembers

"The North Remembers" is the first episode of the second season of Game of Thrones. It is the eleventh episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 1, 2012. It was written by executive producers David Benioff & D.B. Weiss and directed by co-executive producer Alan Taylor.

Plot
Under the burning Red Comet in the sky, war grips the continent of Westeros. In King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister arrives at court to serve as acting Hand of the King, and to rein in his crazed nephew King Joffrey, as well as Queen Regent Cersei. At Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon begins his quest to take the Iron Throne with the help of a mysterious foreign priestess. On the eastern continent, Daenerys leads her people through the Red Waste. Beyond the Wall, rangers, led by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, seek help from a dangerous wildling.

Beyond the Wall
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's rangers arrive at Craster's Keep having passed several abandoned wildling villages. Jon Snow is repulsed by Craster, who has many wives, most of whom are also his own daughters, but who seemingly has no sons. Craster tells Jeor that he has not seen the missing Benjen Stark and reports that the other wildlings are assembling for the King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. Jon challenges their host, who is low and crude, but is demanding and demeaning when he is talking to the noble Commander Mormont (who ignores his insulting behavior). When Craster refers to them as southerners, Jon argues with him. Jeor reprimands Jon, noting that Craster may be disgusting, but the Night's Watch needs him. His information and shelter in the harsh conditions north of the Wall have helped them many times before. Mormont asks Jon if someday he wants to lead and tells him that first he needs to "learn how to follow."

In the Seven Kingdoms
King Joffrey Baratheon holds a tournament to celebrate his nameday on the walls of the Red Keep. He is irritated by Ser Dontos Hollard, who arrives both late and intoxicated for his bout. Joffrey orders his guards to pour an entire barrel of wine down Dontos' throat with a funnel. Sansa Stark intercedes telling Joffrey that ordering a death on one's name day is bad luck. Joffrey dismisses this as a mindless superstition, but Sandor Clegane seconds her. Sansa convinces Joffrey to instead make Dontos his court fool, for which Dontos is grateful. Tyrion Lannister arrives back in King's Landing, to Joffrey's disdain, but to the delight of Tommen and Myrcella who had worried that he was dead.

The small council are in session to discuss the Conclave's announcement that the long summer has ended. Cersei orders the city gates closed to refugees from the war in the Riverlands. When Tyrion arrives with a letter from Lord Tywin, appointing him as acting Hand of the King in Tywin's stead, Cersei is furious. She is suspicious that Tyrion is taking power for himself, but he convinces her that he is there to act as an advisor. He criticizes his sister for failing to rein in Joffrey and overseeing numerous bad decisions, particularly the execution of Ned Stark. Their actions have caused a war which, he adds, their side is currently losing. He is even more incredulous when he learns that Arya Stark escaped, pointing out how strong their position had been with three Stark hostages. Tyrion hides his lover Shae in his chambers in the Tower of the Hand because he was forbidden by his father to bring her with him. She is initially thrilled at being brought to the capitol.

At Winterfell, Bran Stark suffers through the petty complaints of his vassals, facing unrest at Robb Stark calling his banners and taking the young men south. Maester Luwin guides him in carrying out a lord's duties. Bran dreams that he is his direwolf Summer walking in the Godswood, and when he looks in the pool, he sees Summer's reflection not his own which wakes him. He has Osha and Hodor take him to the pool and is reassured to find that his waking reflection is his own. They discuss the phenomenon of the Red Comet, as many people think it means different things.

On the island of Dragonstone, King Stannis Baratheon allows his advisor Melisandre to burn statues of the gods of the Faith of the Seven as an offering to her deity the Lord of Light. Maester Cressen is outraged at the affront to his gods and fearful that Melisandre is leading Stannis into a war that he cannot win. Melisandre proclaims Stannis a champion of the Lord of Light, as he draws a burning sword from one of the statues. Cressen asks Davos Seaworth to help him intervene but Davos says that it is not the right time.

Stannis has received Ned Stark's letter, informing him that he was the true heir of King Robert Baratheon, so he will send copies of a letter announcing his claim to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms to Lords throughout the realm. He details the incestuous relationship between Cersei and Jaime Lannister and challenges Joffrey's legitimacy. He rejects Davos's appeal to consider an alliance with his brother Renly Baratheon, while Renly is claiming the throne for himself, despite Renly having widespread support, or even with Robb Stark, since while Robb does not seek the Iron Throne, he desires Northern independence, which Stannis sees as Robb "stealing the Northern half of his kingdom." Cressen feigns an apology in an effort to trick Melisandre into sharing a cup of poisoned wine with him. Davos sees him drop the poison in the cup, and tries to stop him. He drinks first and hands the cup to her. Melisandre is aware of what Cressen is doing, but smiling she drinks anyway and is unaffected by the poison, and Cressen dies in vain.

Robb receives the letter and interrogates the captive Jaime about his reasons for crippling Bran. Jaime reveals nothing and attacks Robb's decision to keep him in his mobile camp rather than with one of his bannermen as demonstrating a lack of trust. Robb asserts his faith in his men and his concern at the lengths House Lannister would go to in order to free Jaime. His direwolf Grey Wind is almost fully grown and menaces Jaime during the questioning. Robb sends his prisoner Alton Lannister to King's Landing with peace terms. His demands include the release of his sisters, the return of his father's remains along with the remains of all those who served him, and the recognition of the North as a free and independent kingdom. Theon Greyjoy appeals to Robb to send him to Pyke to seek an alliance with his father Balon citing their need for a fleet in order to attack King's Landing. Catelyn counsels against putting trust in Balon because of his history of rebellion. She asks Robb to consider exchanging Jaime for his sisters. She then asks to return to her younger sons at Winterfell but Robb tasks her with seeking an alliance with Renly.

Cersei tasks Petyr Baelish with finding Arya. She needles Petyr about his unrequited love for Catelyn and he counters by referencing her relationship with Jaime, telling her that knowledge is power. She responds by threatening his life in a demonstration of her control over her guards. She warns him that power is power.

Joffrey redecorates his throne room, hoping to restore the intimidating grandeur it held under the Targaryens. He refuses his mother's suggestion that they ask Tywin Lannister for aid in the search for Arya because he does not feel it is necessary to find her and does not feel it is fitting for a king to ask for help. He blames Tywin for their losses in the war and the capture of Jaime. Having heard rumors about his parentage, he confronts his mother. She dismisses it as gossip spread by his enemies. He questions her about his father's bastard children and insults her by saying that Robert had grown tired of her. She slaps him, and he warns her never to hit him again under threat of death.

Lord Janos Slynt leads a city-wide massacre of Robert's bastards. The infant Barra is killed in Petyr's brothel in front of her mother and the prostitute Ros. Tobho Mott is interrogated and reveals that Gendry has left the city as a recruit of the Night's Watch. He says that Gendry can be identified by his bull's head helm. Gendry and Arya are travelling north on the Kingsroad with Yoren's recruits.

Across the Narrow Sea
Daenerys Targaryen leads her diminished khalasar east into the Red Waste to avoid her rivals. She is surrounded by powerful enemies who Ser Jorah tells her will kill her and take her dragons. The deadly emptiness of the Red Waste is her only option. She struggles to make her dragons eat what little meat she has, and her people face starvation. Her beloved white mare, her first gift from Khal Drogo, dies prompting her to halt the march and send three of her bloodriders in three different directions to scout for sustenance and refuge.

Recap

 * Main: The North Remembers recap

A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.

Appearances

 * Main: The North Remembers/Appearances

First

 * Lothor Brune
 * Ser Dontos Hollard
 * Septa Eglantine
 * Lord Portan
 * Kovarro
 * Aggo
 * Eddison Tollett
 * Craster
 * Night's Watch Officer
 * Gilly
 * Melisandre
 * Maester Cressen
 * Ser Davos Seaworth
 * Matthos Seaworth
 * King Stannis Baratheon
 * Queen Selyse Baratheon
 * Ser Alton Lannister
 * Stark Officer 1
 * Stark Officer 2
 * Daisy

Deaths

 * Maester Cressen
 * Barra

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister
 * Michelle Fairley as Lady Catelyn Stark
 * Emilia Clarke as Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen
 * Aidan Gillen as Lord Petyr Baelish
 * Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont
 * Kit Harington as Jon Snow
 * Liam Cunningham as Ser Davos Seaworth
 * Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Prince Bran Stark
 * Richard Madden as King Robb Stark
 * Sophie Turner as Princess Sansa Stark
 * Maisie Williams as Princess Arya Stark
 * Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
 * John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
 * Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey Baratheon
 * Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane
 * Stephen Dillane as King Stannis Baratheon
 * Carice van Houten as Melisandre
 * James Cosmo as Lord Commander Jeor Mormont
 * Jerome Flynn as Bronn
 * Conleth Hill as Lord Varys
 * Sibel Kekilli as Shae

Guest starring
 * Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin
 * Ron Donachie as Ser Rodrik Cassel
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Robert Pugh as Craster
 * Natalia Tena as Osha
 * Oliver Ford Davies as Maester Cressen
 * Mark Stanley as Grenn
 * Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett
 * Joe Dempsie as Gendry
 * Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie
 * Eros Vlahos as Lommy Greenhands
 * Roxanne McKee as Doreah
 * Amrita Acharia as Irri
 * Elyes Gabel as Rakharo
 * Steven Cole as Kovarro
 * Kristian Nairn as Hodor
 * Esme Bianco as Ros
 * Dominic Carter as Lord Janos Slynt
 * Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth
 * Tony Way as Ser Dontos Hollard
 * Hannah Murray as Gilly
 * Karl Davies as Ser Alton Lannister
 * Ian Beattie as Ser Meryn Trant
 * Pat Mooney as Northern Lord
 * Sahara Knite as Armeca
 * Maisie Dee as Daisy
 * Antonia Christophers as Mhaegen
 * Callum Wharry as Prince Tommen Baratheon
 * Aimee Richardson as Princess Myrcella Baratheon
 * Andrew Wilde as Tobho Mott
 * Natalie Lee as Chella
 * Gordon Fulton as Lord Portan
 * Marko Cindric as Tourney Herald
 * Josephine Gillan as a Marei
 * Dennis Stokes as a male prostitute

Uncredited
 * Tobias Winter as Timett
 * Dennis McKeever as Night's Watch Officer 2
 * Unknown as Night's Watch Officer (relieved of his axe)
 * Unknown as Lothor Brune
 * Unknown as Aggo
 * Sarah MacKeever as Selyse Baratheon
 * Unknown as Stark Officer 1
 * Unknown as Stark Officer 2
 * Unknown as Barra

Cast notes

 * 23 of the 25 starring cast members for the second season appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
 * John Bradley, James Cosmo, Jerome Flynn, Conleth Hill and Sibel Kekilli are added to the main cast with their names appearing in the opening credits, starting with this episode. All five actors appeared in the first season in recurring roles.
 * New main cast members Liam Cunningham, Stephen Dillane and Carice van Houten are also added to the opening credits.
 * Dinklage was the last starring cast member to appear in the first season credit sequence, receiving the "and" modifier. He is now the first credited.
 * Headey is credited ahead of Coster-Waldau and Fairley for the first time.

In the books

 * See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 2: The North Remembers 


 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Clash of Kings:
 * Prologue: Stannis has declared himself King, as the heir of Robert. Maester Cressen attempts to poison Melisandre, but she is unaffected, and he only succeeds in killing himself.
 * Chapter 2, Sansa I: Sansa attends a tourney for Joffrey's name day. When Ser Dontos is called to fight, he is too drunk to participate. Joffrey humiliates him and orders him to be killed. Sansa, horrified, tells Joffrey that it would be bad luck to kill him on his name day. Sansa suggests that he would make a better fool instead and Joffrey allows it. Tyrion finally arrives in capital and tells Joffrey that there is work to be done.
 * Chapter 3, Tyrion I: Tyrion meets with the small council and assumes his position as acting Hand of the King. After dismissing the council, he discusses with Cersei what has happened in King's Landing, including Joffrey's disastrous short reign. Cersei accepts Tyrion as Hand.
 * Chapter 4, Bran I: Bran thinks about what the red comet means and hears that it means dragons are coming. Osha knows that Bran is still having wolf dreams.
 * Chapter 7, Catelyn I: Catelyn counsels Robb, as she is desperate to get Sansa and Arya back. Robb sends his peace terms to Cersei and orders Theon to travel to Pyke to treat with his father, Balon. Catelyn is sent to the Stormlands to negotiate with Renly Baratheon.
 * Chapter 10, Davos I: Davos watches the burning of the Seven. Stannis draws out the sword Lightbringer. Stannis discusses his plan to take the Iron Throne and drafts a proclamation naming Joffrey a bastard.
 * Chapter 12, Daenerys I: Daenerys leads her people into the red waste. She sends three of her dothraki in different directions to find civilization.
 * Chapter 23, Jon III: Jon and Lord Commander Mormont's party arrive at Craster's Keep.

Memorable quotes
Grand Maester Pycelle: "The Raven arrived from the Citadel this morning, Your Grace. The Conclave has met, considered reports from maesters all over the Seven Kingdoms, and declared this great summer done at last. The longest summer in living memory."

Varys: "The peasants say a long summer means an even longer winter."

Pycelle: "A common superstition."

Lord Petyr Baelish: "We have enough wheat for a five-year winter. If it lasts any longer...we'll have fewer peasants."

Tyrion Lannister: "You love your children. That is your one redeeming quality; that and your cheekbones. The Starks love their children too, and we have two of them."

Cersei Lannister: "One."

Tyrion: "One?"

Cersei: "Arya, little animal, she disappeared."

Tyrion: "Disappeared? What, in a puff of smoke? We had three Starks to trade. You chopped one's head off and let another escape. Father will be furious."

Robb Stark: "The King Joffrey Baratheon is neither a true king nor a true Baratheon. He's your bastard son."