Walk of Punishment

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Walk of Punishment
Game of Thrones
Episode # Season 3, Episode 3
Airdate April 14, 2013
Director David Benioff
Episode chronology
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"Dark Wings, Dark Words" "And Now His Watch Is Ended"
List of Game of Thrones episodes

"Walk of Punishment" is the third episode of the third season of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 23rd episode of the series. Written by executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and directed by David Benioff, it aired on April 14, 2013 .

The title of the episode alludes to a road in Astapor known as the "Walk of Punishment," where slaves are crucified and displayed to discourage other slaves from disobeying their masters.

Plot

At King's Landing

Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) calls the first meeting of the small council since his arrival in the city. As a test for the councilors, Tywin sits at one end of the long table, with chairs on only one side. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (Aidan Gillen) ambitiously rushes to the seat nearest to Tywin. Varys (Conleth Hill) is content to take the second seat. Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) calmly takes the third. Cersei Lannister creates a place at her father's right hand by moving her chair. Last of all, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) makes a point of noisily dragging his chair to the far end of the table and taking up a position to mirror his father's.

Tywin is displeased that, despite their vast networks of spies, none of the councilors can locate his son Jaime. Turning to the war, Varys informs the council that Robb Stark has left Roose Bolton as lord of Harrenhal while he is at Riverrun. Tywin declares Bolton can have the ruin; Littlefinger's titular position as lord of Harrenhal is enough to make him a suitor to Lady Lysa Arryn. As Lysa's husband, Littlefinger will become the acting Lord Paramount of the Vale and ensure the Vale does not support Robb. Tywin appoints Tyrion to replace Littlefinger as Master of Coin, causing Tyrion to points out his obvious lack of qualifications.

Later, Tyrion visits Littlefinger's brothel to retrieve the royal ledgers. Littlefinger wishes Tyrion luck and thanks him for freeing Ros (Esmé Bianco) after Cersei mistook her for Tyrion's mistress. He also advises Tyrion that finances are easy to manipulate once you realize they are just numbers on paper. Tyrion then rewards his squire Podrick (Daniel Portman) with the services of three prostitutes, including a contortionist.

Upon reviewing the ledgers, Tyrion discovers that Littlefinger has borrowed millions in gold from House Lannister, as well as tens of millions from the Iron Bank of Braavos, who will fund their enemies if not paid back in the proper time. Then Podrick returns with Tyrion's money, which he explains the prostitutes refused to take. Impressed and confused, Tyrion and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) insists Pod provide them with "copious details."

Beyond the Wall

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) arrives back at the Fist of the First Men with Mance Rayder's (Ciarán Hinds) wildling army. They find the severed heads of the horses arranged in a spiral pattern, but none of the dead brothers Orell (Mackenzie Crook) saw. Jon admits there were three hundred men, and everyone realizes they have become wights. When Jon asks if Lord Commander Mormont could have survived, Mance agrees it is possible but even so Mormont will be far from Castle Black. He orders Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) to scale the Wall with twenty men and attack Castle Black from its exposed southern side when he lights a massive signal fire. He orders Jon taken along and authorizes Tormund to throw him off the Wall if he does not prove useful.

Farther south, Mormont (James Cosmo) and his remaining survivors seek refuge at Craster's Keep. Threatened by the brothers' obvious desperation, Craster (Robert Pugh) reluctantly allows them in. As the brothers eat and warm themselves, Craster admits he is feeding his pigs better but insists they should be grateful for his generosity, calling himself a godly man for helping them. Mormont disagrees, but Craster insists that only those who pay homage to the "real gods" will survive what is coming. He suggests, half-seriously, that the brothers should eat fat Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West), which drives Sam out of the keep. Sam follows the sound of a woman's birthing pains to a small outbuilding where he witnesses Gilly (Hannah Murray) give birth to a baby boy.

At Dragonstone

Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) accuses Melisandre (Carice van Houten) of trying to abandon him as she prepares to board a ship bound for a destination she claims will be revealed by the Lord of Light. Stannis declares the Seven Kingdoms are laughing at him like Renly did and begs her to make him another "son." She replies that he does not have the strength, but their is a better way. Stannis recalls that her magic requires a king's blood and he is the only true king, but Melisandre points out that others share Stannis' blood.

In the North

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is woken in the night by the cleaning boy (Iwan Rheon), who releases him, gives him a horse, and tells him to ride east. Theon thanks the boy and promises to make him a lord of the Iron Islands, but the boy insists they are not in the Iron Islands now. After riding all night, Theon learns he is being pursued. After a desperate chase, he is caught and unhorsed with a flail. Moments before being raped by their leader, Theon is saved by the cleaning boy, who kills the soldiers with a bow. Helping Theon to his feet, the boy reminds Theon he is a long way from home, and winter is coming.

In Astapor

As she travels the "Walk of Punishment," where slaves are executed for disobedience, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) offers water to a condemned man, but he refuses since it will only prolong his suffering. Shocked, she returns to her advisers--Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Ser Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney)--who disagree over whether she should purchase the Unsullied.

Barristan urges her to forget the Unsullied and hire sellswords in the Free Cities. Jorah points out retaking the Iron Throne will mean blood on her hands, but Daenerys insists it will not be innocent blood. Jorah notes that innocents are never spared in war, which Barristan cannot deny. Jorah continues that the Unsullied will not commit atrocities unless ordered. Barristan argues that men died for Daenerys' brother Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident because they believed in him, not because the were bought at an auction; he himself was proud to fight beside the last dragon that day. Jorah replies that, despite his nobility, Rhaegar died. Daenerys laments that she never met her brother, but declares he was not the last dragon.

Soon after, Daenerys asks to buy all 8,000 fully-trained Unsullied and those still in training. Kraznys mo Nakloz (Dan Hildebrand) maintains his habit of mocking her while his slave translator Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) struggles to filter out his disrespect. He points out that Daenerys can only afford 123 Unsullied, even if she sells her ship and her Dothraki followers. Daenerys offers one of her dragons, prompting protests from both Jorah and Barristan. Kraznys demands the biggest one, to which Daenerys agrees. However, before leaving, Daenerys requests Missandei as a gift and Kraznys agrees.

Outside, Daenerys chastises her advisers for questioning her in public. Daenerys asks Missandei if she has any family, but she does not. She also asks if what Kraznys has told her of the Unsullied's obedience is true, which it is. When Daenerys explains the dangers Missandei may face in her service, Missandei replies, "Valar morghulis." Daenerys agrees that "all men must die," but quips they are not men.

In the Riverlands

At Riverrun

At Riverrun, Lord Hoster Tully's funeral is attended by his family and bannermen as well as King Robb Stark (Richard Madden) and his army. Hoster's heir, Lord Edmure (Tobias Menzies), fails three times to set the funeral boat ablaze with an arrow, so Hoster's brother, Ser Brynden the Blackfish (Clive Russell), takes over and skillfully makes the shot, shaming Edmure.

Shortly after, King Robb chastises Edmure for disobeying orders not to engage Ser Gregor Clegane at Stone Mill, since he was hoping to lure Clegane. Edmure insists they took valuable captives like Willem and Martyn Lannister in the battle, but Robb angrily points out they are only boys and Tywin will not care about his distant relatives. Edmure points out that the Lannister losses where much higher, but Robb rages that they need their men more than Tywin does.

Later, Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) mourns privately with her uncle Brynden. She asks if he made peace with her father, with whom Brynden has feuded for thirty years. Brynden explains that Hoster asked him to stop calling himself "Blackfish," since it was a bad joke that symbolized their feud. Brynden laments that he has been the Blackfish for so long most people do not remember his true name. Catelyn wishes she could have been there for her father, and reminisces about all the times she waited for his return. She breaks down when she wonders if her sons Bran and Rickon watched in vain for her return, but Brynden urges her to not give up hope and to remain strong for Robb.

In the dungeons of Riverrun, Queen Talisa (Oona Chaplin) treats the wounds of Edmure's prisoners Willem and Martyn Lannister. One of them asks if Robb really turns into a wolf and eats the flesh of his enemies. Talisa says he does, but he only eats children on full moons, and asks a guard if tonight is a full moon.

At the Crossroads Inn

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) asks Gendry (Joe Dempsie) why he is helping their captor Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye) don his armor. Thoros argues that they are not captives, but insists she cannot leave because the roads are not safe for Ned Stark's daughter. Arya notices Sandor "the Hound" Clegane being loaded into a wagon and confronts him about the day he murdered her friend Mycah near this very spot, but he is taken away before she can get an answer. She and Gendry then say goodbye to Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey), who has decided to remain at the inn as a cook.

Near Harrenhal

Elsewhere in the Riverlands, Locke (Noah Taylor) and his men are transporting their captives (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) back to Harrenhal. Brienne derides Jaime's poor swordplay, but Jaime counters by pointing out the men intend to rape her. He suggests she submit to avoid being killed, but Brienne insists she will fight. Jaime admits that he would fight to the death, too.

That night, Locke orders Brienne taken away for him to rape first. Jaime informs Locke that Brienne's father is Lord Selwyn of Tarth, the "Sapphire Isle," who will pay his daughter's weight in sapphires for her safe return. Locke agrees and orders Brienne brought back. Jaime then tries to secure his own release by promising that his father will reward Locke with gold, land, and titles. Jaime also notes that fighting for the poorer and outnumbered Starks is a noble, but hopeless effort. At Jaime's suggestion, Locke orders Jaime unchained and offers him a meal. However, the bribe has offended Locke, and he slams Jaime down and presses his carving knife against Jaime's eye, sneering that Jaime is powerless with out his father. Then he hacks of Jaime's right hand, and Jaime screams.

Casting

"Walk of Punishment" introduces the Tully family at Riverrun, marking the first appearances of Catelyn Stark's uncle Brynden Tully, played by Clive Russell, and her younger brother Edmure, played by Tobias Menzies.

Main cast members Liam Cunningham (Davos), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey), Natalie Dormer (Margaery), Sophie Turner (Sansa), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran), and Sibel Kekilli (Shae) do not appear in this episode and are not credited.

Character List

Locations

Differences with the books

The episode captures roughly A Storm of Swords chapters 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 31, 33 and 35.

The following scenes do no appear in the books:

  • Catelyn and the Blackfish
  • Talisa with the Lannisters
  • Theon[1]
  • Melisandre's departure
  • Podrick's reward
  • Tyrion and Littlefinger’s ledgers

References and notes

  1. It should however be noted that in the books, more details of Theon's captivity are slowly revealed in A Dance with Dragons and a similar escape is recalled in chapter 12

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