- "We need to teach 'em a lesson about they way we deal with their kind! Three dozen bodies with slit throats tossed off the top of the Wall! Seems like that'd be a good lesson!"
- ―Othell Yarwyck
Othell Yarwyck is a recurring character in the first, fourth and fifth seasons. He is played by guest star Brian Fortune[1]. He debuts in "You Win or You Die." Othell Yarwyck is the First Builder; a senior position within the Night's Watch.
Biography
Background
Othell Yarwyck is First Builder of the Night's Watch and a member of House Yarwyck, a noble house of the Westerlands sworn to Casterly Rock. He is based at Castle Black and is tasked with organizing the builders in maintaining the Wall and the castles belonging to the Watch.
Season 1
Othell Yarwyck is present for the induction of the new recruits at Castle Black. He accompanies Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly into the Haunted Forest to witness them saying their oaths of loyalty to the Watch in front of a heart tree. He is among the first to congratulate them on entering the Watch, and is also present when Ghost returns with a corpse's hand in his mouth.[2] The party discover the corpses of Othor and Jafer Flowers and return them to Castle Black. He confirms Sam's discovery that the corpses do not smell, which is odd since they appear to have been dead for weeks.[3]
Season 4
Othell Yarwyck is one of the five black brothers to "judge" Jon Snow for his actions during his time with the wildlings. After Maester Aemon dimisses Jon, Yarwyck helps Aemon to his feet and to leave the hall.[4]
A young boy, Olly, arrives at Castle Black and tells the Night's Watch how a wildling raiding party massacred his village. Othell angrily proposes that they should send a message to the wildlings by killing the raiders and throwing their bodies off the top of the Wall. Many black brothers agree with him, but Ser Alliser Thorne argues that striking back is exactly what the wildlings want.[5]
Othell is present when Jon Snow proposes to seal Castle Black's tunnel due to the imminent attack by Mance Rayder's army. Alliser Thorne reminds Jon that the builders are responsible for maintaining the tunnel, and not the stewards. Alliser asks for Othell's opinion on Jon's proposal to seal the tunnel. Othell reluctantly sides with Alliser.[6]
Appearances
Template:Season One Appearances Template:Season Four Appearances
Behind the scenes
For a while there was confusion and it was believed that Fortune was playing Bowen Marsh and Dennis McKeever was playing Yarwyck, based on comments by Brian Fortune and McKeever's character shouting out a line said by Yarwyck in the books. However, McKeever reappeared in Seasons 2 and 3 in a background role in the Great Ranging storyline, in which Yarwyck didn't partake; Fortune's character was identified as Yarwyck in Season 4; and Michael Condron was cast as Bowen Marsh for Season 5, meaning that McKeever was playing an unnamed officer and Fortune was playing Yarwyck all along.
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Yarwyck is not present when Jon Snow is taken before Alliser Thorne and Janos Slynt.
See also
Othell Yarwyck on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (spoilers from the books)
References
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