Garden of Bones (TV)

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"Garden of Bones"
Game of Thrones
Season 2  —  Episode 4
GOT-GardenofBones.png
Daenerys and her khalasar at the gates of Qarth, in the area known as the "Garden of Bones".
Original air date April 22, 2012
Running time 51 minutes
Credits
Directed by David Petrarca
Written by Vanessa Taylor
Episode chronology
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"What Is Dead May Never Die" "The Ghost of Harrenhal"
List of episodes

"Garden of Bones" is the name of the fourth episode of the second season of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. It was written by Vanessa Taylor and directed by David Petrarca. It aired on April 22, 2012.

The Iron Islands and the Wall appear in the opening sequence, but are not visited or mentioned in the episode, while Qarth takes the place of Vaes Dothrak as a marker of Daenerys's location.

The episode's title comes from a phrase used by Ser Jorah Mormont to describe the city of Qarth to Daenerys Targaryen.

Official synopsis

Catelyn tries to save two kings from themselves; Tyrion practices coercion; Robb meets a foreigner; Dany finds her ally.[1]

Plot

At King's Landing

King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) continues to grow more and more cruel; after hearing of Robb Stark's latest victory, he orders Ser Meryn (Ian Beattie) to deliver a public beating and shaming on Robb's sister, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) arrive in time to diffuse the situation; Bronn later suggests to Tyrion that sex may calm the boy king, and Tyrion arranges for the prostitutes Ros (Esmé Bianco) and Daisy (Maisie Dee) to service Joffrey. However, Joffrey instead forces Ros to sadistically beat Daisy to send a message to Tyrion. Later, Ser Lancel Lannister (Eugene Simon) visits Tyrion and informs him that Queen Cersei Lannister has ordered the release of Grand Maester Pycelle. Tyrion tells Lancel that he is aware of his affair with Cersei, but will keep the truth from Joffrey in exchange for spying on her.

Talisa Maegyr

In the battlefield

Robb Stark (Richard Madden) wins another battle over the Lannister armies. Afterwards, he discusses the captured Lannister personnel with Lord Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton). Bolton favours torturing and eliminating the prisoners for practical purposes, but Robb insists on their fair treatment and reminds him that his sisters are still kept prisoner at King's Landing. Robb later meets a neutral field nurse, Talisa (Oona Chaplin), while aiding in a leg amputation on a Lannister soldier. Despite Robb's protests, Talisa holds him accountable for the carnage at the battle; her spirit and forthrightness leave him impressed.

In the Stormlands

Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen) arrives in the Stormlands and meets with Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony), to discuss the siege of King's Landing. Later, he presses Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) about her marriage, and Renly's relationship with her brother, Loras (Finn Jones), but the potential queen rebuffs his questions. He next meets with Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), who flies into a rage at the sight of him. Littlefinger tells her that the Lannisters have both Sansa and Arya Stark, and want to trade them for Ser Jaime. As a gesture of good will, he brings her Ned's remains. Later, Renly and Catelyn meet with Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) and Melisandre (Carice van Houten). Stannis offers Renly the chance to surrender in exchange of becoming his heir, but Renly denies him, as he possesses the larger army.

At night, Stannis orders Davos (Liam Cunningham) to take Melisandre to shore, and to be sure they are not seen. Once ashore, Melisandre reveals she is, impossibly, in late-stage pregnancy, and gives birth to a horrific, shadowy figure, which disappears in a cloud of smoke.

At Harrenhal

Having been previously captured, Arya (Maisie Williams), Gendry (Joe Dempsie), and Hot Pie (Ben Hawkley) are brought to the ruined castle of Harrenhal, currently under occupation of the Lannister Army. The garrison there, under command of Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane (Ian Whyte), is brutally torturing and killing prisoners daily. Gendry is eventually selected to be tortured next, but before he can be harmed, Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) arrives, ending the debauchery and ordering the prisoners be put to work. When Polliver (Andy Kellegher) catches Arya staring at her sword, Needle, he threatens her but she is spared by Tywin, who recognizes that she is a girl and makes her his cupbearer.

Across the Narrow Sea

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) receives word from Kovarro (Steven Cole) that the city of Qarth is nearby, and they are willing to welcome the "Mother of Dragons". Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) cautions that Qarth is located in the "Garden of Bones", a brutal desert of which those who've been turned away by Qarth have perished in. When Daenerys' horde arrives in Qarth, they are met by the Thirteen, the leaders of the city. One of the Thirteen, The Spice King, speaks for the group and bargains to see Danaerys' dragons in exchange for food and rest inside Qarth. Danaerys refuses and demands her people are attended to first, and the Thirteen decide to turn Danaerys' group away and abandon them to the Garden of Bones. Danaerys swears vengeance on Qarth should they not comply, and one of the Thirteen, Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie), breaks with the group and vouches for the behaviour of Danaerys' people through a blood oath, after which they are allowed to enter the city.

Cast

This episode marks the first appearance of Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) in season 2; he was last seen as a supporting player in season 1, and with this episode is added to the principal cast list in the main credits. It is also the first appearance of Ian Whyte as Gregor Clegane. Clegane had been previously played by Conan Stevens in season 1. Oona Chaplin makes her first appearance as Talisa, a character based on Jeyne Westerling in the novels, who becomes Robb's love interest.

Queen Cersei (Lena Headey), Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), Samwell Tarly (John Bradley), Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo), Lord Varys (Conleth Hill), and Shae (Sibel Kekilli) do not appear in this episode and are omitted from the opening credits.

Guest cast

Production

Writing

"Garden of Bones" was the first of the two episodes written by the season's addition to the writting staff Vanessa Taylor. The script was based on chapters 26, 29, 31, 32 and 42 (Arya VI, Tyrion VII, Catelyn III, Sansa III and Davos II) of George R.R. Martin's novel A Clash of Kings.[2]

The closing scene of the episode was filmed at the Cushedun Caves.

Filming locations

For "Garden of Bones" the production continued to use Belfast's the Paint Hall Studios for all the interior shots, and the set constructed at the Larryban Bay for the scenes at Renly's camp.

The episode also introduced numerous external locations: the gates of Qarth were constructed in the Dubac quarry, near Dubrovnik, on cliffs over the Adriatic Sea[3]; the scenes on the caves below Renly's camp were filmed at the Cushendun Caves[4]; and the set representing the huge ruined castle of Harrenhal was built near Banbridge.[5]

Reception

IGN rated the episode 9/10, calling it "a ferocious treat, overloaded with misery, torture and a total "WTF!" black magic-fueled ending."[6]

External links

References

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Garden of Bones. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Garden of Bones. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.