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Lord Snow
"Lord Snow" is the third episode of the first season of Game of Thrones. It is
the third episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 1, 2011. It was Lord Snow
written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss and directed by Brian Kirk.
Season 1 Episode 3

Contents [show]

Plot
Arriving at King's Landing after his long journey, Ned is shocked to learn of the
Crown's profligacy from his new advisors. At Castle Black, Jon Snow impresses
Air date May 1, 2011
Tyrion at the expense of greener recruits. Suspicious the Lannisters had a hand
Runtime 58 minutes
in Bran's fall, Catelyn covertly follows her husband to King's Landing, where
Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
she is intercepted by Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. Cersei and Jaime ponder the
Directed by Brian Kirk
implications of Bran's recovery; Arya studies swordsmanship. On the road to
Episode Guide
Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys finds herself at odds with Viserys.
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"The Kingsroad" "Cripples, Bastards,

Summary and Broken Things"

In King's Landing
The royal party reaches King's Landing. Almost immediately, Lord Eddard Stark is asked to
attend a meeting of the king's small council and to change his clothes, but he refuses to the
latter. Before that he encounters Jaime Lannister in the throne room. Jaime is still unhappy
that Eddard judged him dishonorable for killing the Mad King, the murderer of Eddard's father
and brother, and for having the nerve to casually seat himself upon the Iron Throne after
mayhem was through. Jaime is unrepentant about it. Eddard meets the council members: The Stark party arrives in King's

Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, the king's Master of Coin and a friend of Eddard's wife from Landing.

childhood; Grand Maester Pycelle, the king's adviser in all matters scientific and academic;
Lord Renly Baratheon, the youngest of the king's two brothers and Master of Laws; and
Varys, a eunuch and the Master of Whisperers (the head of the king's intelligence network).

Varys tells Eddard that the council members heard about his "troubles on the Kingsroad" and that they pray for Joffrey's
recovery. Eddard grimly responds "It's a shame no one prayed for the butcher's boy", which visibly upsets Varys.

Eddard is stunned to learn that the crown is six million Gold Dragons in debt, half of which is to Lord Tywin Lannister. To make
matters worse, King Robert has just ordered a lavish tournament to celebrate Eddard's appointment. He resolves to advise
Robert to cancel the tournament, but the council is doubtful that the king will listen.

Queen Cersei talks to Joffrey about the incident on the river. She tells him that when he is king, the truth will be whatever he
decides it will be. Joffrey thinks there will be trouble with the Starks, and promises that when he is king, he will double their
taxes, force them to contribute to a standing army and, should they object, crush them and install someone loyal, such as his

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great-uncle Kevan, as Warden of the North. Cersei points out that the North is too vast and
wild to be militarily conquered by outsiders, and a king needs to be more clever. She also
advises him to be kind to his betrothed Sansa Stark to avoid stirring up trouble for later, and
concludes that "Anyone who isn't us is an enemy."

Arya and Sansa are still at odds over the incident with Joffrey and her direwolf. Eddard
explains to Arya that Sansa was put in a difficult position by the king and queen, and while Cersei and her son Joffrey.
she shouldn't have lied, winning the long-term approval of Joffrey, her future husband, was
important. Arya is unhappy with the situation, but Eddard mollifies her by allowing her to
practice with her sword, Needle.

Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik arrive at King's Landing and attempt to sneak into the city, but
are spotted by one of Littlefinger's men. They are taken to meet Littlefinger at a brothel he
owns, where Lord Varys is also waiting. He explains that one of his 'little birds' told him they
were coming. Catelyn is angered by the way they've been treated, but asks Littlefinger for aid
in finding the people who tried to have Bran killed. Littlefinger is able to answer this quickly
stating that the elaborate dagger wielded by the assassin used to be his, but he lost it in a
gamble with Tyrion Lannister. Catelyn and Rodrik arrive in
Littlefinger fetches Eddard to meet his wife, but Eddard suspects a trick and pushes King's Landing.
Littlefinger up against a wall outside the brothel wanting to know what his game is. Catelyn
then appears, and Eddard is pacified. After hearing her news, he vows to find the truth and
expose the Lannisters to Robert. Littlefinger agrees to be his ally in this, for the affection he
once bore Catelyn as a youngster.

Ravens arrive at King's Landing with news of Bran's recovery. Cersei fears he will expose
their secret, but Jaime comforts her, confident they can outwit a child if need be.
Eddard threatens Lord Baelish.
Elsewhere, Robert swaps old war stories with Ser Barristan Selmy, a distinguished and
famous knight and the commander of the Kingsguard. Summoning Jaime Lannister, Robert
jokingly questions him about Aerys Targaryen's death, wondering if the Mad King died
begging for mercy, but Jaime rather coldly replies that the master he betrayed died screaming
the same words he'd been saying since the siege of King's Landing began: "Burn them all".

Eddard has contracted a swordmaster, Syrio Forel, the former First Sword of Braavos, to
teach Arya how to use her sword properly. Arya is thrilled, and 'the dance' begins. As Eddard
watches them practice, his pleasure at seeing Arya happy sours when he realizes that a
conflict between the Starks and Lannisters may be inevitable; his daughter may well be Jaime comforts Cersei.
training herself for war.

At Winterfell
At Winterfell, Bran has awoken but has no memory of his accident. His injuries have left him
bedridden and unlikely to walk again. Old Nan, the oldest servant in the castle, tells Bran
stories to pass the time, but he doesn't want her usual heroic stories about the likes of Ser
Duncan the Tall. She instead speaks of the White Walkers and the coming of a vast winter
that will blanket the world. When Robb pays a visit, Bran asks his brother if it is true that he

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will never walk again. Robb reluctantly says this is so. Bran remarks that he would rather be Old Nan tells Bran of winter and
dead. the Long Night.

At the Wall
At Castle Black, the primary redoubt of the Night's Watch in the shadow of the Wall, Jon Snow shows his worth to the trainer, Ser
Alliser Thorne, by besting several fellow members of the Watch in the practice yard. Thorne is disgusted at the poor performance
of the others but has no praise for Jon either, dubbing him Lord Snow and describing him as "the least useless person here".
Watching over the new recruits with Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, Tyrion notes Thorne's stern and unusual ways, but Jeor
doesn't care as he only requires Thorne to turn the "thieves and runaways" into men of the Night's Watch. Later on, several of
the other recruits gang up on Jon, but the situation is defused by Tyrion. Tyrion points out to Jon that none of the other recruits
had the benefit of a skilled master-at-arms to train them, and that Jon is alienating them through his standoffish attitude and
superior combat skills.

Benjen Stark meets Jon atop the Wall and tells him he is going on a ranging in the Haunted
Forest. He refuses to take Jon with him, telling him he isn't ready, and that here rank and
nobility mean nothing. Every man must earn everything he gets. Before departing, Benjen
stops by the eating area to say farewell to Yoren, a fellow Night's Watchman who scouts for
new recruits in the capital. Benjen also scolds Tyrion for his naivety regarding what is north of
the Wall and states that Tyrion has no authority to say what is or isn't beyond the Wall as he
Benjen talks with Jon on the Wall.
hasn't been out there himself.

Later, Tyrion discusses north of the Wall with Jeor Mormont and his chief adviser, the ancient and blind Maester Aemon. Jeor
asks for Tyrion to intercede at court and get the Watch more men as they are dangerously undermanned. Aemon warns that the
Stark words are right. Winter is coming. It will be more harsh and terrible than any in living memory. More dangerous things than
just wildlings might come with it. After all, one of their number swore that the White Walkers had returned ... right up to the
moment Ned Stark cut his head off. Tyrion admits his skepticism that supernatural creatures might exist, but he agrees to bring
word to his queen.

Before departing for King's Landing, Tyrion fulfills an old ambition by climbing to the top of the Wall and urinating off the edge of
it. He and Jon share a moment of fellowship before Tyrion departs for the capital in the company of Yoren.

In the Dothraki Sea

Daenerys commands the khalasar to halt on a whim, exercising her growing authority and
power. Viserys does not take well to being commanded and threatens his sister, whereupon
he is lassoed around the neck by Rakharo, a Dothraki warrior wielding a whip. Daenerys
calms the situation and Viserys is forced to walk, a sign of shame amongst the horse-riding
Dothraki. Later, Irri reveals to Daenerys that Daenerys is pregnant. Daenerys relays the news
to Khal Drogo and tells him she thinks it will be a boy as they lie naked in each other's arms.
Daenerys rides with the khalasar.
Ser Jorah Mormont and Rakharo compare the Westerosi and Dothraki ways of battle: the
heavily-armored but slow knights, with longswords good for piercing armor, versus the lightly-
armored but fast-moving horse-warriors. Jorah has heard of Rakharo's father, a great warrior, but admits that he disgraced his
own father, a man of great honor. When he learns that Daenerys is pregnant, he announces he must split off from the column to
ride to the Free City of Qohor, but will rejoin them before they reach Vaes Dothrak.

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Recap

Main: Lord Snow recap

A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.

Appearances

Main: Lord Snow/Appearances

First
Royal Steward
Petyr Baelish
Varys
Renly Baratheon
Grand Maester Pycelle
Old Nan
Gold Cloak #1
Gold Cloak #2
Drunk man
King's Landing whore
Jeor Mormont
Pypar
Alliser Thorne
Grenn
Lancel Lannister
Barristan Selmy
Rakharo
Yoren
Aemon
Syrio Forel

Production
Cast

Starring Guest starring

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark Conleth Hill as Varys

Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister Owen Teale as Ser Alliser Thorne
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark Jamie Sives as Jory Cassel
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister Ian McElhinney as Barristan Selmy
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen Ron Donachie as Ser Rodrik Cassel
Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark

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Aidan Gillen as Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish Francis Magee as Yoren

Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen Julian Glover as Pycelle
Kit Harington as Jon Snow Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark Peter Vaughan as Aemon
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark Miltos Yerolemou as Syrio Forel
Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark Margaret John as Old Nan
Richard Madden as Robb Stark Susan Brown as Mordane
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon Robert Sterne as Royal Steward
and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister Mark Stanley as Grenn

Also Starring Josef Altin as Pypar

Luke McEwan as Rast
Jason Momoa as Drogo
Elyes Gabel as Rakharo
Amrita Acharia as Irri
Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister
Paul Portelli as a Drunk Man
Nickovich Sammut as Gold Cloak #1
Seamus Kelly as Gold Cloak #2
Emily Diamond as a King's Landing whore

Cast notes
17 of 19 cast members for the first season appear in this episode.
Starring cast members Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) and Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane) are not credited and do not appear
in this episode.
Aidan Gillen makes his first appearance as Petyr Baelish and is added to the opening credits, having being absent from the
previous two episodes.
Richard Madden (Robb Stark) is credited after Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark) in the opening sequence despite
being credited before him in the previous two episodes.
Casting associate Robert Sterne plays the Royal Steward who welcomes Eddard Stark to King's Landing.
Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo) is credited as 'also starring' during the closing credits of this episode.
Alexis Barron, Talila Helen Craig, Richard Hansen, Bill Hobbs, Paul Jennings, László Kósa, Géza Kovács, Norbert Kovács,
Balazs Lengyel, Camilla Naprous,James O'Dee, Domonkos Pardanyi, Martin Lee Pemberton, Michael Redmond, Buster
Reeves, Amie Stephenson and Gáspár Szabó were stunt performers in this episode.

Notes
The episode takes its title from a mocking nickname given to Jon Snow by Ser Alliser Thorne.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Margaret John, who plays Old Nan, and who sadly passed away on 2 February
2011 after a brief illness.
During the Small Council scene, Renly hands Ned Stark a scroll containing the announcement of the tournament and the
prizes for the winners, which he then reads off as "40,000 Gold Dragons for the champion, 20,000 for the runner-up, and
20,000 for the best archer". Pycelle then asks if the crown can afford 80,000 Gold Dragons in prize money. If you pause
when Ned first unrolls the scroll, its contents are actually clearly legible: it goes on to say that there is a 20,000 Gold
Dragon prize for "Combat with Swords and Clubs", which makes for a total tournament debt of 100,000 Gold Dragons. It is
unclear why this discrepancy occurred.

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Littlefinger states that the Crown is six million in debt, half of it to Tywin, without specifying to whom the other half is owed.
In a later episode, it is revealed that one of the main creditors of the Crown is the Iron Bank of Braavos.
In the parallel book scene, Littlefinger states that the Crown owes more than six million gold pieces, and specifies the
main creditors: about half of the debt is owed to House Lannister, and the rest to the Iron Bank, the Tyrells, several
Tyroshi trading cartels (together), and the Faith. In the fourth novel, it is revealed that the debt to the Faith is nearly
one million.

The Dothraki word that Irri is heard teaching Daenerys, "athjahakar", is the Dothraki word for "pride". It is derived from
"jahak", the long braid worn by Dothraki warriors which they take great pride in, as they only cut their braids when
defeated.
When the Royal Steward greets Eddard Stark and says that Grand Maester Pycelle has called a meeting of the Small
Council, the steward mispronounces "maester" as "my-stir"; the correct pronunciation is actually "may-stir". This was
reportedly a common mistake on set which took the cast some time to get right.
When Joffrey complains to Cersei that every lord in the realm commands his own soldiers raised from his feudal lands, he
comments that he feels this is primitive, "no better than the Hill tribes." This is the first mention of the hill tribes of the
Mountains of the Moon which ring the Vale of Arryn, though they won't be encountered on-screen until two episodes after
this, in "The Wolf and the Lion".
Joffrey also mentions "uncle Kevan": Kevan Lannister first appears on-screen five episodes from this in "The Pointy End".
Of course, Joffrey is speaking loosely, as Kevan is actually his mother's uncle and therefore his great-uncle (it's common in
real-life to refer to great-uncles as just "uncle").
Old Nan offers to tell Bran a story about Ser Duncan the Tall. This is the first time in the show Duncan, also known as
"Dunk", is mentioned; he is one of the main characters in the Tales of Dunk and Egg prequel novellas, which take place 89
years before the events of Game of Thrones (there are time skips between novellas in the series, and George R.R. Martin
has said that he wants to continue them all the way up to the deaths of the characters, about 50 years before Game of
Thrones). Ser Duncan visited Winterfell in one of his adventures, and it is speculated that Old Nan met him in her youth.
The scene between Robert, Barristan, and Jaime, the scene between Tyrion, Yoren, and Benjen, and the scene between
Jorah, Rakharo and Irri were written at the last minute because the rough-cut of the episode was running short, and filmed
in post-production re-shoots. Note that all of these scenes are interior shots which didn't need to be filmed on-location.[1]
Robert says that he killed a Tarly at the Battle of Summerhall. According to the books, the Tarlys did not participate that
battle; instead, they fought against Robert (and defeated him) in the Battle of Ashford.
It is never revealed in the show who sent the assassin to kill Bran and who is the real owner of the dagger. In the novel "A
Clash of Kings" Catelyn is told to whom Littlefinger lost the dagger; in the novel "A Storm of Swords" two characters figure
out, based on circumstantial evidence, who sent the assassin.
For full information, see the articles about the "Valyrian steel dagger" and "Catspaw assassin".

Since Jaime and Cersei are not POV characters in the first novel, their conversation in this episode about Bran does not
occur on-screen in the novels; it is mentioned in a flashback in "A Storm of Swords", when Jaime becomes a POV
character.
This is the first episode in which no deaths occurred.
It is also the only episode in this season with no deaths.
This makes it also the first episode without deaths before the start of the War of Five Kings.

Commentary
Actors Isaac Hempstead Wright, Maisie Williams, and Sophie Turner provide an audio commentary for the episode on the DVD
and Blu-ray releases.

The young actors sing along with the main theme during the title sequence.

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Sean Bean was noted by the younger actors for secreting chocolate bars on his person and sneaking them to his young
co-stars during filming.
Conleth Hill apparently enjoyed trying to put Sophie Turner off during her close-ups.
English-accented Sophie Turner and Irish-accented Jack Gleeson would imitate one another's accents for amusement
between takes.
Isaac Hempstead Wright's only scene with Jack Gleeson was a mock battle scene in the pilot, where Bran and Tommen
have a mock fight while Joffrey and Robb watch on (this scene occurred in the book). This was not used in the final
episode.
The argument between Arya and Sansa at the breakfast table was Sophie Turner's first scene filmed for the first season.
Maisie Williams dented the table with the knife so badly it had to be rotated several times to hide the marks from the
camera.
Mark Addy spooked one of the horses in the king's arrival scene in the first episode with his laugh, while he was talking to
Isaac Hempstead Wright.
Mark Addy's prosthetic beard was apparently easily removable so he could eat lunch without ruining it.
Eugene Simon taught Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner some magic tricks between takes.
Emilia Clarke was allowed to pick one of four horses for Daenerys's use in the series.
Harry Lloyd was responsible for introducing the iPhone game Fruit Ninja to the cast. It went on to become a craze on set,
with cast and crew competing to see who could get the highest score.
Joseph Mawle told Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner that if acting was easy, everyone would be doing it, so not to be
worried if they found scenes hard because the producers had reasons for choosing them and they would be able to do the
job.
The producers considered asking Miltos Yerolemou to shave his hair off to match the appearance of Syrio Forel in the
books, but decided he looked better with his hair. Author George R.R. Martin himself would later say in another Season 1
commentary that he didn't care about such minor differences, being more concerned with the satisfying performance of the
actor.

In the books

See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 1#Lord Snow

The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Game of Thrones:

Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
Chapter 19, Jon III.
Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
Chapter 22, Arya II.
Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
Chapter 24, Bran IV.

The episode is adapted from the following chapter of A Storm of Swords:

Chapter 1, Jaime I: Cersei chides Jaime for what he did to Bran. She fears that Bran will awake and tell his father
what he saw. Jaime says that at worst he will kill Ned Stark and fight Robert.

Image gallery

Main - Gallery: Lord Snow

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There is a range of promotional images and screen captures featuring the episode "Lord Snow" in the gallery.

Memorable quotes
Jaime Lannister: "It must be strange for you, coming into this room. I was standing right here when it happened. He was very
brave, your brother. Your father too. They didn't deserve to die like that; nobody deserves to die like that."
Eddard Stark: "But you just stood there and watched."
Jaime: "Five hundred men just stood there and watched. All the great knights of the Seven Kingdoms, you think anyone said a
word, lifted a finger? No, Lord Stark. Five hundred men and this room was silent as a crypt...except for the screams, of course,
and the Mad King laughing. And later, when I watched the Mad King die, I remembered him laughing as your father burned...it
felt like justice."
Eddard: "Is that what you tell yourself at night? You're a servant of justice? That you were avenging my father when you shoved
your sword in Aerys Targaryen's back?"
Jaime: "Tell me, if I'd stabbed the Mad King in the belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?"
Eddard: "You served him well. When serving was safe."

Eddard: "War was easier than daughters!"

Cersei Lannister: "When Aerys Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne, your father was a rebel and a traitor. Someday, you'll sit on
the throne, and the truth will be what you make it."

Joffrey Baratheon: "Do I have to marry her?"

Cersei: "Yes, she's very beautiful, and young...and if you don't like her, you only need to see her on formal occasions, and when
the time comes, to make little princes and princesses...and if you'd rather fuck painted whores, you'll fuck painted whores. And if
you'd rather lie with noble virgins, so be it. You are my darling boy, and the world will be exactly as you want it to be."

Cersei: "Everyone who isn't us is an enemy."

Benjen Stark: "You're no ranger. Here, a man gets what he earns, when he earns it."

Jaime: "I think we can outfox a ten year old."

Cersei: "And my husband?"

Jaime: "I'll go to war with him if I have to...they can write a ballad about us, 'the War for Cersei's Cunt'!"
[Cersei slaps Jaime. He chuckles, and she tries to slap him again, but he grabs her arm and holds her from behind firmly but
gently]
Cersei: (annoyed) "Let me go..."
Jaime: (impassioned) "Never."
Cersei: "Let me go..."
Jaime: (whispering reassuringly in Cersei's ear) "The boy won't talk. And if he does, I'll kill him, Ned Stark, the king, the whole
bloody lot of them until you and I are the only people left in this world."
(Cersei and Jaime quietly sink into a loving embrace)

Robert Baratheon: What about Aerys Targaryen? What did the Mad King say, when you stabbed him in the back? I never
asked. [Smirks] Did he call you a traitor? Did he plead for a reprieve?

Jaime: "He just said the same thing he'd been saying for hours... 'Burn them all.'" [Robert's smile vanishes.] "If that's all, Your
Grace."
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Benjen Stark: "We've been receiving disturbing reports."

Jon Snow: "What kind of reports?"

Benjen Stark: "The kind I don't want to believe."

Maester Aemon: The Starks are always right eventually; winter is coming. This one will be long and dark things will come with
it...When winter does come, gods help us all if we're not ready!

See also
Lord Snow on Wikipedia

Lord Snow on IMDb

Lord Snow on A Wiki of Ice and Fire

References
1. ↑ Bryan Cogman Q&A , WinterIsComing.net, April 24, 2013.

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