What Is Dead May Never Die

"What is Dead May Never Die" is the third episode of the second season of Game of Thrones. It is the thirteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 15, 2012. It was written by story editor Bryan Cogman and directed by cinematographer Alik Sakharov.

Beyond the Wall
Craster drags his captive Jon Snow back to his keep. He had caught Jon spying on him while he left a baby in the forest for the White Walkers and has beaten him bloody. Craster orders the men of the Night's Watch out of his home, blaming Jon. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont questions Jon about his actions. Jon realizes that Jeor has known all along that Craster is sacrificing his sons. However, Mormont considers Craster too valuable a contact to risk offending, as he is one of their few sources of information and shelter beyond the Wall. Mormont himself is disgusted by Craster's human sacrifices (not to mention his incestuous relationships with his own daughters), but he will not interfere, and forbids Jon from doing so. Jon reveals seeing ​something taking the child. Jeor predicts that whatever it was Jon will see it again.

Samwell Tarly gives Gilly a thimble that once belonged to his mother. He promises to come back for her when they make the return journey to Castle Black.

In the Seven Kingdoms
Bran Stark continues to experience strange dreams where he sees the world from the perspective of his direwolf Summer. He follows Hodor into his own bedroom and looks down on himself sleeping. Later, he confides in Maester Luwin who is dismissive of their significance.

Catelyn Stark arrives in the camp of King Renly Baratheon during a tournament. She watches Brienne of Tarth defeat Ser Loras Tyrell and claim a place in Renly's kingsguard. Renly introduces Catelyn to his new wife Margaery Tyrell. Renly shows off his 100,000 strong army. Catelyn warns Renly to take the war seriously.

Theon Greyjoy is included in his father Balon's war council. Balon reveals his plan to attack the lightly defended North while their armies are fighting against House Lannister. Theon is fuming when he is assigned a single ship to raid the fishing villages of the Stony Shore while his sister Yara is put in command of thirty ships and told to take Deepwood Motte. Theon implores his father to reconsider, claiming that if they attack the North, they face the possibility of total destruction if they lose, but if they ally with Robb and win, Balon will be crowned King of the Iron Islands and House Greyjoy will be awarded Casterly Rock and essentially the source of the Lannisters' wealth along with it, but Balon rebuffs Theon and chastises him for becoming loyal to the Starks. Theon challenges his father's lack of faith in him and reminds him that he gave him up as a ward. Balon reacts by hitting his son and storming out as Theon shouts at him from behind. Theon considers warning Robb about his father's actions, but ultimately reaffirms his loyalty to his family by being baptised by a Drowned Priest.

Shae complains to Tyrion Lannister about being confined to his chambers. He liaises with Varys to find her a job that will give her some freedom. Cersei Lannister hosts an awkward dinner for her children and her captive Sansa Stark. Sansa maintains her facade of loyalty to her captors. Shae reports as Sansa's new handmaiden allowing Sansa to vent some frustration about her inexperience.

Tyrion tests the loyalty of the small council by feeding them each a different plan for a marriage alliance involving Princess Myrcella Baratheon. He uncovers Pycelle as an informant to Cersei when Cersei confronts him about the plan he fed to Pycelle. Tyrion insists on pursuing the exposed plan to marry Myrcella into House Martell of Dorne over Cersei's protests. He has Bronn arrest Pycelle for his treachery. Petyr Baelish is furious about being involved in Tyrion's deception. Tyrion placates him by offering him an opportunity to act as an envoy to Renly and Catelyn.

Renly tries to initiate sex with his lover Loras but is rebuffed. Loras reminds him of the importance of fathering an heir and goes to fetch his sister Queen Margaery. Margaery fails to seduce Renly. She is pragmatic about his homosexuality, and suggests including her brother in their love making, asserting the importance of producing an heir.​

Arya Stark struggles with insomnia and takes advice from Yoren about coping with her painful memories. He tells her to focus on retribution. They are interrupted by the arrival of Ser Amory Lorch with a force of Lannister men and gold cloaks. Yoren marshals the recruits for a battle. He confronts Ser Amory and refuses to comply with his demands that he surrender the Royal bastard Gendry. Yoren dies fighting bravely but his recruits are overcome. During the fight Arya rescues Jaqen H'ghar from a fire near the prisoner wagon. Lommy Greenhands picks up Gendry's helmet and is wounded by a crossbow bolt. Arya is incapacitated by Polliver who takes Needle from her. Gendry and Hot Pie are also captured. Lommy begs Polliver to carry him but Polliver stabs him in the throat with Needle instead. Arya convinces her captors that Lommy was Gendry because he was carrying the helmet. Ser Amory orders the prisoners taken to Harrenhal.

Recap

 * Main: What is Dead May Never Die recap

A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.

Appearances

 * Main: What is Dead May Never Die/Appearances

First

 * Ser Colen of Greenpools
 * Queen Margaery Tyrell
 * Brienne of Tarth
 * Ser Amory Lorch
 * Polliver

Deaths

 * Yoren
 * Lommy Greenhands

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister
 * Michelle Fairley as Lady Catelyn Stark
 * Aidan Gillen as Lord Petyr Baelish
 * Kit Harington as Jon Snow
 * Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
 * Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Prince Bran Stark
 * Sophie Turner as Princess Sansa Stark
 * Maisie Williams as Princess Arya Stark
 * John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
 * Natalie Dormer as Queen Margaery Tyrell
 * 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 (credit only)
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Robert Pugh as Craster
 * Patrick Malahide as King Balon Greyjoy
 * Francis Magee as Yoren
 * Gethin Anthony as King Renly Baratheon
 * Joe Dempsie as Gendry
 * Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar
 * Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
 * Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell
 * Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie
 * Eros Vlahos as Lommy Greenhands
 * Gemma Whelan as Princess Yara Greyjoy
 * Kristian Nairn as Hodor
 * Hannah Murray as Gilly
 * Fintan McKeown as Amory Lorch
 * Andy Kellegher as Polliver
 * Andy Beckwith as Rorge
 * Gerard Jordan as Biter
 * Jonathan Ryan as a Drowned Priest
 * Aimee Richardson as Princess Myrcella Baratheon
 * Callum Wharry as Prince Tommen Baratheon
 * Maisie Dee as Daisy
 * Tobias Winter as Timett
 * Ken Fletcher as Gerald
 * Darren Killeen as Ser Colen of Greenpools
 * Sam Callis as a Goldcloak on the Kingsroad

Uncredited
 * Dennis McKeever as Night's Watch Officer 2
 * Unknown as Night's Watch Officer

Cast notes

 * Natalie Dormer joins the starring cast, bringing the number of current starring cast members to 24.
 * Only 15 of the 25 starring cast members for the second season appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister), Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Richard Madden (Robb Stark), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), and Carice van Houten (Melisandre) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
 * John Bradley is credited ahead of Jerome Flynn and Conleth Hill when he was credited after them in "The Night Lands", he was credited before them in "The North Remembers".
 * Alfie Allen is credited before Isaac Hempstead-Wright and Sophie Turner when he was credited after them when they last appeared together in "The North Remembers".
 * Tobias Winter makes his first credited appearance as Timett, having previously played the character uncredited as a featured extra.

In the books

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


 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Clash of Kings:
 * Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
 * Chapter 14, Arya IV.
 * Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
 * Chapter 19, Arya V.
 * Chapter 20, Tyrion V.
 * Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
 * Chapter 23, Jon III.
 * Chapter 24, Theon II.
 * Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
 * Chapter 28, Bran IV.
 * Chapter 44, Tyrion X.

Memorable quotes
''[After a day of being tormented by Joffrey, Sansa Stark attends an awkward dinner with Cersei, and her younger children Myrcella and Tommen. Everyone eats wordlessly until Myrcella finally breaks the awkward silence]'' Princess Myrcella Baratheon: (to Cersei) "When will Joffrey and Sansa be married?"

Queen Cersei Lannister: "Soon darling, when the war is over." Myrcella: (to Sansa) "Mother says I'll have a new gown for the ceremony, and another for the feast." (Quickly thinking of something nice to say to Sansa) "But yours will be ivory, since you're the bride." (Sansa sits in a stunned silence after being reminded that she will be forced to marry Joffrey)

Cersei: (to Sansa) "The princess just spoke to you."

Sansa Stark: (to Cersei) "Pardon, your grace." (to Myrcella) "I'm sure your dress will be beautiful, Myrcella. I'm counting the days until the fighting's done, and I can pledge my love to the king in sight of the Gods."

Prince Tommen Baratheon: (to Cersei) "Is Joffrey going to kill Sansa's brother?"

Cersei: "He might. Would you like that?"

Tommen: (pausing to weigh the question) "No...I don't think so."

Cersei: (smiling coldly at Sansa) "Even if he does, Sansa will do her duty. Won't you, little dove?"

[At Pyke, Balon Greyjoy looks over a map with Yara and Theon.] Lord Balon Greyjoy: "The wolf pup has gone south with the entirety of the northern army at his back. While he's tangling with the lion in the Westerlands, the North is ripe for the taking. The ironborn will reave and pillage as it was in the old days all along the northern coast. We'll spread out dominion across the green lands securing the Neck and everything above. Every stronghold will fall to us one by one."