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'''"Valar Dohaeris"''' is the first episode of the [[Season 3|third season]] of ''[[Game of Thrones]]''. It is the twenty-first episode of the series overall.
 
'''"Valar Dohaeris"''' is the first episode of the [[Season 3|third season]] of ''[[Game of Thrones]]''. It is the twenty-first episode of the series overall.
   
  +
==Plot==
 
[[Jon Snow|Jon]] is brought before [[Mance Rayder]], the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall|King Beyond the Wall]], while the [[Night's Watch]] survivors retreat south. In [[King's Landing]], [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] asks for his reward, [[Littlefinger]] offers [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] a way out, and [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]] hosts a dinner for the [[House Baratheon of King's Landing|royal family]]. [[Daenerys Targaryen|Dany]] sails into [[Slaver's Bay]].
 
[[Jon Snow|Jon]] is brought before [[Mance Rayder]], the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall|King Beyond the Wall]], while the [[Night's Watch]] survivors retreat south. In [[King's Landing]], [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] asks for his reward, [[Littlefinger]] offers [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] a way out, and [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]] hosts a dinner for the [[House Baratheon of King's Landing|royal family]]. [[Daenerys Targaryen|Dany]] sails into [[Slaver's Bay]].
   
==Plot==
+
==Summary==
===Summary===
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===Beyond the Wall===
====Beyond the Wall====
 
 
[[File:Ghost_Attacks_a_Wite.jpg|thumb|Ghost attacks a wight]]
 
[[File:Ghost_Attacks_a_Wite.jpg|thumb|Ghost attacks a wight]]
In a prologue scene, shouts and sword clashes are heard in the darkness as the [[White Walkers]] and their army of undead [[wights]] attack the men of the [[Night's Watch]] off-screen in the [[Battle of the Fist of the First Men]]. [[Samwell Tarly]] is then seen alive, wandering through a blizzard in search of safety. He sees another man of the Night's Watch up ahead but soon finds that he has been decapitated. Just then, a wight approaches Sam and is about to attack him with an axe, when the [[Direwolves|direwolf]] [[Ghost]] knocks it down. Ghost continues to tear at its legs as it pulls itself forward inch by inch towards Sam. Finally, the wight is lit on fire and destroyed by a torch, revealed to belong to Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]]. Mormont has managed to rally the few dozen survivors out of his original three hundred men at the [[Fist of the First Men]]. Mormont is angry that Sam wasn't able to send off any messenger-[[ravens]] in the confusion of the attack. Mormont announces that they must retreat back to [[the Wall]], not simply to save their own lives but because [[Castle Black]] and the rest of Westeros must be warned of the coming threat - otherwise everyone they've ever known will die.
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In a prologue scene, shouts and sword clashes are heard in the darkness as the [[White Walkers]] and their army of undead [[wights]] attack the men of the [[Night's Watch]] off-screen in the [[Battle of the Fist of the First Men]]. [[Samwell Tarly]] is then seen alive, wandering through a blizzard in search of safety. He sees another man of the Night's Watch up ahead but soon finds that he has been decapitated. Just then, a wight approaches Sam and is about to attack him with an axe, when the [[Direwolves|direwolf]] [[Ghost]] knocks it down. Ghost continues to tear at its legs as it pulls itself forward inch by inch towards Sam. Finally, the wight is lit on fire and destroyed by a torch, revealed to belong to Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]]. Mormont has managed to rally the few dozen survivors out of his original three hundred men at the [[Fist of the First Men]]. Mormont is angry that Sam wasn't able to send off any messenger-[[ravens]] in the confusion of the attack. Mormont announces that they must retreat back to [[the Wall]], not simply to save their own lives but because [[Castle Black]] and the rest of Westeros must be warned of the coming threat―otherwise everyone they've ever known will die.
   
Meanwhile, [[Jon Snow]] is led by [[Ygritte]] and the [[Lord of Bones]] into the main [[Free Folk|wildling]] camp in the [[Frostfangs]] mountains. It is not simply an army camp - almost all of wildling society is on the move to escape the White Walkers, including women and children. As they enter the camp, Jon is shocked to see a real-life [[Giants|giant]] walk past. [[File:Giant working S3 Ep1.jpg|thumb|Giant carrying mammoth bones]] Many of the wildlings are surprised to see Jon in his all-black Night's Watch clothing and shout "crow!" at his approach. Several young boys pelt Jon with ice and small stones but Ygritte shoos them away.
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Meanwhile, [[Jon Snow]] is led by [[Ygritte]] and the [[Lord of Bones]] into the main [[Free Folk|wildling]] camp in the [[Frostfangs]] mountains. It is not simply an army camp - almost all of wildling society is on the move to escape the White Walkers, including women and children. As they enter the camp, Jon is shocked to see a real-life [[Giants|giant]] walk past. [[File:Giant working S3 Ep1.jpg|thumb|Giant carrying mammoth bones]] Many of the wildlings are surprised to see Jon in his all-black Night's Watch clothing and shout "Crow!" at his approach. Several young boys pelt Jon with ice and small stones, but Ygritte shoos them away.
   
Jon is led into the tent of [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]] [[Mance Rayder]], where the Lord of Bones explains that he is [[Ned Stark]]'s bastard son to a large man with a heavy beard who is eating chicken by the fire. He says that he doesn't care, but his interest is piqued on hearing that Jon killed [[Qhorin Halfhand]]. As they talk, Jon kneels before the man, whom he assumes to be Mance Rayder, and calls him "Your Grace" as he would a king south of the Wall. This causes all of the wildlings to burst into laughter, as their society does not bother with such ceremony - and because the man actually isn't Mance, but his lieutenant [[Tormund Giantsbane]]. The real Mance is an unassuming man sitting in a corner, who then introduces himself and tells Jon to stand, as no man kneels before another among the Free Folk, as they do not recognize a class of nobility in their culture.
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Jon is led into the tent of [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]] [[Mance Rayder]], where the Lord of Bones explains that he is [[Ned Stark]]'s bastard son to a large man with a heavy beard who is eating chicken by the fire. He says that he doesn't care, but his interest is piqued on hearing that Jon killed [[Qhorin Halfhand]]. As they talk, Jon kneels before the man, whom he assumes to be Mance Rayder, and calls him "Your Grace" as he would a king south of the Wall. This causes all of the wildlings to burst into laughter, as their society does not bother with such ceremony–and because the man actually isn't Mance, but his lieutenant [[Tormund Giantsbane]]. The real Mance is an unassuming man sitting in a corner, who then introduces himself and tells Jon to stand, as no man kneels before another among the Free Folk, as they do not recognize a class of nobility in their culture.
   
Mance says he is glad that Jon killed Qhorin, as he had killed many of Mance's wildlings, though he notes that Qhorin was his brother once, back when he was a member of the Night's Watch and Qhorin had a whole hand. Mance asks Jon why he wants to join them. He replies that he wants to be free, but Mance thinks he just wants to be a hero. Jon then explains that when the Night's Watch camped at [[Craster's Keep]], he saw [[Craster]] [[The Night Lands|leave his newborn son in the woods as an offering]], and the inhuman creature that took it. Jon says that he wants to leave the Night's Watch because he is disgusted that Mormont already knew what Craster was doing but did nothing to stop it. Jon states that the [[First Men]] he is descended from defeated the White Walkers once during [[The Long Night]], and that now he wants "to fight for the side who fights for the living". Mance is satisfied and advises Jon to get a new cloak.
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Mance says he is glad that Jon killed Qhorin, as he had killed many of Mance's wildlings, though he notes that Qhorin was his brother once, back when he was a member of the Night's Watch and Qhorin had a whole hand. Mance asks Jon why he wants to join them. He replies that he wants to be free, but Mance thinks he just wants to be a hero. Jon then explains that when the Night's Watch camped at [[Craster's Keep]], he saw [[Craster]] [[The Night Lands|leave his newborn son in the woods as an offering]], and the inhuman creature that took it. Jon says that he wants to leave the Night's Watch because he is disgusted that Mormont already knew what Craster was doing but did nothing to stop it. Jon states that the [[First Men]] he is descended from defeated the White Walkers once during [[The Long Night]], and that now he wants "to fight for the side who fights for the living." Mance is satisfied and advises Jon to get a new cloak.
   
====In the Seven Kingdoms====
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===In the Seven Kingdoms===
 
[[File:Lucky_Bastards.jpg|thumb|210px|Bronn confronts two Kingsguard]]
 
[[File:Lucky_Bastards.jpg|thumb|210px|Bronn confronts two Kingsguard]]
In [[King's Landing]], King [[Joffrey Baratheon]]'s forces stand victorious after the [[Battle of the Blackwater]]. [[House Lannister]]'s new allies [[House Tyrell]] begin to settle into the capital. [[Tywin Lannister]] bluntly tells his son [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] that he intends to disinherit him. This comes as a shock, because his older brother [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] gave up all right to inherit his father's lands when he joined the [[Kingsguard]], and Tyrion is rightfully the next in line of succession. For that matter, despite all evidence to the contrary, Tywin refuses to believe that Tyrion was in any way helpful in the defence of the city or during his months as acting [[Hand of the King]]. Instead, Tywin obstinately maintains his belief that Tyrion is a whore-mongering, drunken, "ill-made, spiteful little creature", and that he is lying about all of his accomplishments out of envy. Tywin is particularly insulted that Tyrion brought his mistress, [[Shae]], to the capital when Tywin explicitly told him not to, which makes Tywin convince himself that Tyrion was in bed with Shae most of the time while events spiraled out of control. When Tyrion asks why his father is doing this, Tywin is shocked as if Tyrion insulted ''him'', and says it should be obvious as Tyrion "killed" his mother [[Joanna Lannister|Joanna]] in childbirth so that he might enter the world. Tywin says that the laws of men say he has to let Tyrion use his family name, but that he wishes he could prove Tyrion wasn't his son, so his very existence would not continue to make a mockery out of the name "Lannister" which he stole from Tywin. Tyrion fumes at the situation to his [[Mercenary|sellsword]] [[Bronn]], who has recently been [[Knighthood|knighted]] as a reward for his service in the Battle of the Blackwater. He now styles himself as "Ser Bronn of the Blackwater", and while possessing no lands, wealth, or title, this drastically elevates his social standing - and in his mind, his pay.
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In [[King's Landing]], King [[Joffrey Baratheon]]'s forces stand victorious after the [[Battle of the Blackwater]]. [[House Lannister]]'s new allies [[House Tyrell]] begin to settle into the capital. [[Tywin Lannister]] bluntly tells his son [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] that he intends to disinherit him. This comes as a shock, because his older brother [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] gave up all right to inherit his father's lands when he joined the [[Kingsguard]], and Tyrion is rightfully the next in line of succession. For that matter, despite all evidence to the contrary, Tywin refuses to believe that Tyrion was in any way helpful in the defense of the city or during his months as acting [[Hand of the King]]. Instead, Tywin obstinately maintains his belief that Tyrion is a whore-mongering, drunken, "ill-made, spiteful little creature," and that he is lying about all of his accomplishments out of envy. Tywin is particularly insulted that Tyrion brought his mistress, [[Shae]], to the capital when Tywin explicitly told him not to, which makes Tywin convince himself that Tyrion was in bed with Shae most of the time while events spiraled out of control. When Tyrion asks why his father is doing this, Tywin is shocked as if Tyrion insulted ''him'', and says it should be obvious as Tyrion "killed" his mother [[Joanna Lannister|Joanna]] in childbirth so that he might enter the world. Tywin says that the laws of men say he has to let Tyrion use his family name, but that he wishes he could prove Tyrion wasn't his son, so his very existence would not continue to make a mockery out of the name "Lannister" which he stole from Tywin. Tyrion fumes at the situation to his [[Mercenary|sellsword]] [[Bronn]], who has recently been [[Knighthood|knighted]] as a reward for his service in the Battle of the Blackwater. He now styles himself as "Ser Bronn of the Blackwater," and while possessing no lands, wealth, or title, this drastically elevates his social standing–and in his mind, his pay.
   
Meanwhile, Joffrey's ride back from the Great Sept of Baelor in a heavily guarded palanquin is interrupted when his betrothed, Lady [[Margaery Tyrell]], stops the procession in [[Flea Bottom]] unexpectedly. Margaery shocks the guards and bewilders Joffrey by getting out and exploring, eventually arriving at an orphanage and interacting with the children. Meanwhile, her servants pass out bread and toys, earning her the love of Flea Bottom's [[smallfolk]]. That evening, Joffrey and Cersei visit Margaery and her brother [[Loras Tyrell]] for a small dinner party. Cersei admonishes Margaery's boldness and reminds her that her impromptu charity work took place on the same streets where the [[Riot of King's Landing|royal party was assaulted]] weeks earlier. When Joffrey naively defends Margaery and criticizes his mother, Cersei realizes that she is on the verge of being outmanoeuvred. Cersei only knows how to rule through fear, but Margaery knows how to win the love of the people she rules over, a skill Cersei lacks.
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Meanwhile, Joffrey's ride back from the Great Sept of Baelor in a heavily guarded palanquin is interrupted when his betrothed, Lady [[Margaery Tyrell]], stops the procession in [[Flea Bottom]] unexpectedly. Margaery shocks the guards and bewilders Joffrey by getting out and exploring, eventually arriving at an orphanage and interacting with the children. Meanwhile, her servants pass out bread and toys, earning her the love of Flea Bottom's [[smallfolk]]. That evening, Joffrey and Cersei visit Margaery and her brother [[Loras Tyrell]] for a small dinner party. Cersei admonishes Margaery's boldness and reminds her that her impromptu charity work took place on the same streets where the [[Riot of King's Landing|royal party was assaulted]] weeks earlier. When Joffrey naively defends Margaery and criticizes his mother, Cersei realizes that she is on the verge of being outmaneuvered. Cersei only knows how to rule through fear, but Margaery knows how to win the love of the people she rules over, a skill Cersei lacks.
   
 
[[Sansa Stark]] and [[Shae]] sit on the docks watching ships arrive and depart. Sansa wants to play a game making up stories about where the ships are headed, but Shae, in typical fashion, is uninterested. [[Petyr Baelish]] arrives to speak with Sansa. She displays an eagerness to leave as soon as possible. He suggests that when he next leaves the capital by sea, she might be able to stow away. Sansa advises him not to give her too many details since she is a terrible liar. Meanwhile, [[Ros]], who seems to be acting as Littlefinger's aide, reminisces about the day Sansa was born, when all the bells in [[Winterfell]] were rung in celebration. She asks Shae to look out for Sansa, particularly in regards to Littlefinger.
 
[[Sansa Stark]] and [[Shae]] sit on the docks watching ships arrive and depart. Sansa wants to play a game making up stories about where the ships are headed, but Shae, in typical fashion, is uninterested. [[Petyr Baelish]] arrives to speak with Sansa. She displays an eagerness to leave as soon as possible. He suggests that when he next leaves the capital by sea, she might be able to stow away. Sansa advises him not to give her too many details since she is a terrible liar. Meanwhile, [[Ros]], who seems to be acting as Littlefinger's aide, reminisces about the day Sansa was born, when all the bells in [[Winterfell]] were rung in celebration. She asks Shae to look out for Sansa, particularly in regards to Littlefinger.
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In [[the Riverlands]], the morale of King [[Robb Stark]]'s army is starting to wane. They have not had a significant victory since the [[Battle of Oxcross]] months ago, and the news of the Lannisters' victory over Stannis and new alliance with the Tyrells piles bad news upon bad news. Robb has won every battle he has ever fought, but the Lannisters finally realized it was too difficult to try to attack him head-on, so they have shifted to the new strategy of simply fleeing ahead of Robb's army. Robb's forces have won many small but also insignificant minor victories, as the Lannisters are now determined to simply wait Robb out and exhaust his army far from home while they slowly rebuild their own numbers and gain new allies. In frustration, Robb launches a new offensive to the east which takes the great castle of [[Harrenhal]], which Tywin had been using it as the main Lannister forward base in the Riverlands during the first year of the war. However, Robb does not find the decisive victory he was hoping for: Tywin withdrew his garrison to King's Landing to counter the attack by Stannis, and didn't even bother wasting any men on a token defense of the castle. Robb and his forces are further demoralized to find that the Lannisters massacred two hundred Northern and Riverlands prisoners of war before they left, and the courtyards are choked with piles of bodies. They do find one survivor, a [[Maesters|maester]] named [[Qyburn]].
 
In [[the Riverlands]], the morale of King [[Robb Stark]]'s army is starting to wane. They have not had a significant victory since the [[Battle of Oxcross]] months ago, and the news of the Lannisters' victory over Stannis and new alliance with the Tyrells piles bad news upon bad news. Robb has won every battle he has ever fought, but the Lannisters finally realized it was too difficult to try to attack him head-on, so they have shifted to the new strategy of simply fleeing ahead of Robb's army. Robb's forces have won many small but also insignificant minor victories, as the Lannisters are now determined to simply wait Robb out and exhaust his army far from home while they slowly rebuild their own numbers and gain new allies. In frustration, Robb launches a new offensive to the east which takes the great castle of [[Harrenhal]], which Tywin had been using it as the main Lannister forward base in the Riverlands during the first year of the war. However, Robb does not find the decisive victory he was hoping for: Tywin withdrew his garrison to King's Landing to counter the attack by Stannis, and didn't even bother wasting any men on a token defense of the castle. Robb and his forces are further demoralized to find that the Lannisters massacred two hundred Northern and Riverlands prisoners of war before they left, and the courtyards are choked with piles of bodies. They do find one survivor, a [[Maesters|maester]] named [[Qyburn]].
   
====Across the Narrow Sea====
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===Across the Narrow Sea===
 
[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s ship arrives at the city of [[Astapor]] in [[Slaver's Bay]] after leaving [[Qarth]]. Daenerys' [[dragons]] are continuing to grow, and are now about the size of small dogs. They fly about their ship as it approaches the city, plucking fish from the sea and roasting them in mid-air with their fire-breath.[[File:Burn_Sucker_BURN!.jpg|thumb|Drogon roasts a fish]] She notes that they are still not big enough to use as weapons of war to invade [[Westeros]] with, and that she needs an army. Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] notes that the elite warrior-eunuchs produced in Astapor, known as the [[Unsullied]], are said to be among the finest soldiers in the world. Daenerys stresses that they are ''[[Slavery|slave]]''-soldiers, a distinction which may make some look on her negatively in Westeros where slavery is illegal, but Jorah says they have no better ideas for how to acquire an army. Daenerys expresses interest in expanding her tiny [[Dothraki]] [[khalasar]] (most of them are seasick because the Dothraki have never traveled on ships before), but Jorah says that other Dothraki will only join her if they think she is strong, and for that she needs an army.
 
[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s ship arrives at the city of [[Astapor]] in [[Slaver's Bay]] after leaving [[Qarth]]. Daenerys' [[dragons]] are continuing to grow, and are now about the size of small dogs. They fly about their ship as it approaches the city, plucking fish from the sea and roasting them in mid-air with their fire-breath.[[File:Burn_Sucker_BURN!.jpg|thumb|Drogon roasts a fish]] She notes that they are still not big enough to use as weapons of war to invade [[Westeros]] with, and that she needs an army. Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] notes that the elite warrior-eunuchs produced in Astapor, known as the [[Unsullied]], are said to be among the finest soldiers in the world. Daenerys stresses that they are ''[[Slavery|slave]]''-soldiers, a distinction which may make some look on her negatively in Westeros where slavery is illegal, but Jorah says they have no better ideas for how to acquire an army. Daenerys expresses interest in expanding her tiny [[Dothraki]] [[khalasar]] (most of them are seasick because the Dothraki have never traveled on ships before), but Jorah says that other Dothraki will only join her if they think she is strong, and for that she needs an army.
   
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Turning her attention to her savior, Daenerys is surprised when the man addresses her as his Queen and removes his hood. She asks if Jorah knows the man. A stunned Jorah admits he does; the stranger before them is one of the most skilled fighters in Westeros: Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], Lord Commander of [[Robert Baratheon]]'s [[Kingsguard]]. Falling to his knees, Ser Barristan explains that following Robert's death and his dismissal by Joffrey, he has been searching for Daenerys Stormborn, to beg her forgiveness and offer his service, hoping to make amends for failing [[House Targaryen]] during and after [[Robert's Rebellion]], when he served in [[Aerys II Targaryen|her father]]'s Kingsguard. Barristan hails her as the rightful Queen and asks to serve in her Queensguard.
 
Turning her attention to her savior, Daenerys is surprised when the man addresses her as his Queen and removes his hood. She asks if Jorah knows the man. A stunned Jorah admits he does; the stranger before them is one of the most skilled fighters in Westeros: Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], Lord Commander of [[Robert Baratheon]]'s [[Kingsguard]]. Falling to his knees, Ser Barristan explains that following Robert's death and his dismissal by Joffrey, he has been searching for Daenerys Stormborn, to beg her forgiveness and offer his service, hoping to make amends for failing [[House Targaryen]] during and after [[Robert's Rebellion]], when he served in [[Aerys II Targaryen|her father]]'s Kingsguard. Barristan hails her as the rightful Queen and asks to serve in her Queensguard.
   
===Recap===
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==Recap==
 
:''Main: [[Valar Dohaeris recap]]''
 
:''Main: [[Valar Dohaeris recap]]''
 
A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.
 
A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.
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==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
:''Main: [[Valar Dohaeris/Appearances]]''
 
:''Main: [[Valar Dohaeris/Appearances]]''
===Characters===
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===First===
====First====
 
 
* [[Giant (Valar Dohaeris)|Giant]]
 
* [[Giant (Valar Dohaeris)|Giant]]
 
* [[Tormund Giantsbane]]
 
* [[Tormund Giantsbane]]
 
* [[Mance Rayder]]
 
* [[Mance Rayder]]
 
* [[Mirelle]]
 
* [[Mirelle]]
* Ser [[Jaremy Mallister]] (dead)
+
* Ser [[Jaremy Mallister]] (deceased)
 
* [[Qyburn]]
 
* [[Qyburn]]
 
* [[Boat commander]]
 
* [[Boat commander]]
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* [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]]
 
* [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]]
 
* [[Missandei]]
 
* [[Missandei]]
* [[Unsullied 1|Unsullied]]
+
* [[Unsullied 1 (Valar Dohaeris)|Unsullied]]
 
* [[Unidentified Warlock]]
 
* [[Unidentified Warlock]]
   
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*[[Max Barber]] as a [[orphan kid]]
 
*[[Max Barber]] as a [[orphan kid]]
 
*[[Lottie Steer]] as a [[Unidentified Warlock|warlock]]
 
*[[Lottie Steer]] as a [[Unidentified Warlock|warlock]]
*[[Rhys Howells]] as an [[Unsullied 1|unsullied]]
+
*[[Rhys Howells]] as [[Unsullied 1 (Valar Dohaeris)]]
   
 
{{Col-end}}
 
{{Col-end}}
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*21 of 28 cast members for the third season appear in this episode.
 
*21 of 28 cast members for the third season appear in this episode.
 
*Starring cast members [[Alfie Allen]] ([[Theon Greyjoy]]), [[Nikolaj Coster-Waldau]] ([[Jaime Lannister]]), [[Joe Dempsie]] ([[Gendry]]), [[Isaac Hempstead-Wright]] ([[Bran Stark]]), [[Conleth Hill]] ([[Varys]]), [[Rory McCann]] ([[Sandor Clegane]]) and [[Maisie Williams]] ([[Arya Stark]]), are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
 
*Starring cast members [[Alfie Allen]] ([[Theon Greyjoy]]), [[Nikolaj Coster-Waldau]] ([[Jaime Lannister]]), [[Joe Dempsie]] ([[Gendry]]), [[Isaac Hempstead-Wright]] ([[Bran Stark]]), [[Conleth Hill]] ([[Varys]]), [[Rory McCann]] ([[Sandor Clegane]]) and [[Maisie Williams]] ([[Arya Stark]]), are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
*Oona Chaplin and Rose Leslie are both added to the main cast with their names appearing in the opening credits. Both actors appeared in the second season in recurring roles.
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*[[Oona Chaplin]] and [[Rose Leslie]] are both added to the main cast with their names appearing in the [[title sequence|opening credits]]. Both actors appeared in the second season in recurring roles.
 
*Commencing with this episode, the actor formerly credited as [[Luke McEwan]] is credited as Luke Barnes, playing the role of [[Rast]].
 
*Commencing with this episode, the actor formerly credited as [[Luke McEwan]] is credited as Luke Barnes, playing the role of [[Rast]].
   
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
*This episode was dedicated to the memory of Martin Kenzie, a cinematographer and second-unit director who worked on "[[Blackwater]]" and "[[Valar Morghulis]]", who passed away at the age of 56 between Season 2 and Season 3.
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*This episode was dedicated to the memory of Martin Kenzie, a cinematographer and second-unit director who worked on "[[Blackwater]]" and "[[Valar Morghulis]]," who passed away at the age of 56 between Season 2 and Season 3.
*"Valar Dohaeris" is [[High Valyrian]], the response phrase to "Valar Morghulis", the title of the Season 2 finale. Commonly used in [[Braavos]], "valar morgulis" means "all men must die" (in the sense of "all men must [eventually] die [sooner or later]"), and "valar dohaeris" means "all men must serve". Interestingly, the words are not spoken at any point during the episode.
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*"Valar Dohaeris" is [[High Valyrian]], the response phrase to "Valar Morghulis," the title of the Season 2 finale. Commonly used in [[Braavos]], "valar morgulis" means "all men must die" (in the sense of "all men must [eventually] die [sooner or later]"), and "valar dohaeris" means "all men must serve." Interestingly, the words are not spoken at any point during the episode, and would not be spoken until "''[[The Climb]].''"
 
*This episode marks the introduction of a [[Low Valyrian]] language, spoken by Missandei and others in Slaver's Bay. Daenerys has in previous episodes demonstrated an understanding of High Valyrian, the language from which Low Valyrian is derived. High Valyrian was designed by linguist [[David J. Peterson]], who wrote sentences down in the language then applied phonological, semantic and grammatical changes to simulate Ghiscari influence and create the Slaver's Bay Low Valyrian heard in the episode.<ref>[http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/david-peterson-and-the-languages-of-game-of-thrones/ David Peterson and the languages of 'Game of Thrones'], April 4, 2013</ref>
 
*This episode marks the introduction of a [[Low Valyrian]] language, spoken by Missandei and others in Slaver's Bay. Daenerys has in previous episodes demonstrated an understanding of High Valyrian, the language from which Low Valyrian is derived. High Valyrian was designed by linguist [[David J. Peterson]], who wrote sentences down in the language then applied phonological, semantic and grammatical changes to simulate Ghiscari influence and create the Slaver's Bay Low Valyrian heard in the episode.<ref>[http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/david-peterson-and-the-languages-of-game-of-thrones/ David Peterson and the languages of 'Game of Thrones'], April 4, 2013</ref>
 
*The storylines of [[Arya Stark]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark]], [[Jaime Lannister]] and [[Brienne of Tarth]], and [[House Greyjoy]] do not appear in this episode.
 
*The storylines of [[Arya Stark]], [[Bran Stark|Bran]] and [[Rickon Stark]], [[Jaime Lannister]] and [[Brienne of Tarth]], and [[House Greyjoy]] do not appear in this episode.
 
*A few scenes with [[Arya Stark]] were filmed for the first episode of Season 3, but it was later decided that the episode was getting over-crowded, so all of Arya's scenes were moved to the next episode. Both episodes have the same director anyway (Daniel Minahan), though the season premiere was written by Benioff and Weiss, while the second episode is written by Vanessa Taylor.<ref>[http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/game-of-thrones-producers-say-season-3-as-big-as-were-going-to-get 'Game of Thrones' producers say season 3 'as big as we're going to get']</ref>
 
*A few scenes with [[Arya Stark]] were filmed for the first episode of Season 3, but it was later decided that the episode was getting over-crowded, so all of Arya's scenes were moved to the next episode. Both episodes have the same director anyway (Daniel Minahan), though the season premiere was written by Benioff and Weiss, while the second episode is written by Vanessa Taylor.<ref>[http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/game-of-thrones-producers-say-season-3-as-big-as-were-going-to-get 'Game of Thrones' producers say season 3 'as big as we're going to get']</ref>
*This episode marks the introduction of the non-human race of [[Giants]]: previous episodes occasionally referred to them in the context of being mythical creatures, but this episode confirms that they are a real race which survives beyond the Wall.
+
*This episode marks the introduction of the non-human race of [[Giants]]: previous episodes occasionally referred to them in the context of being mythical creatures, but this episode confirms that they are a real race which survives beyond the Wall. In the novels giants are described as being more apelike, forsaking clothes as they are covered in shaggy fur.
 
*When Cersei meets Tyrion for the first time after the battle, she says she heard he had lost his nose, but the scar across his face isn't as gruesome as that. In the books, Tyrion did indeed have the front his nose cut off when Ser Mandon Moore attempted to kill him. The TV series decided not to do this as it would have been difficult and expensive to achieve the effect and it would have limited Peter Dinklage's acting performance.
 
*When Cersei meets Tyrion for the first time after the battle, she says she heard he had lost his nose, but the scar across his face isn't as gruesome as that. In the books, Tyrion did indeed have the front his nose cut off when Ser Mandon Moore attempted to kill him. The TV series decided not to do this as it would have been difficult and expensive to achieve the effect and it would have limited Peter Dinklage's acting performance.
 
*There is significant construction work underway in King's Landing, with scaffolding surrounding towers along the walls. The reasons for this are unclear, given that such construction work is not present in the books. It is possible this is meant to show repairs being underway to the city following the battle, even though during the battle there was no indication of King's Landing suffering an artillery bombardment.
 
*There is significant construction work underway in King's Landing, with scaffolding surrounding towers along the walls. The reasons for this are unclear, given that such construction work is not present in the books. It is possible this is meant to show repairs being underway to the city following the battle, even though during the battle there was no indication of King's Landing suffering an artillery bombardment.
*Robb mentions that "the Lannisters have been running from us since [[Oxcross]]". This is the first time that the [[Battle of Oxcross]] has actually been referred to by name on-screen. The battle occurred in the fourth episode of Season 2, "[[Garden of Bones]]", but up until this point ''Game of Thrones Wiki'' has been conjecturally referring to it as the "Battle of Oxcross" based on information from the books. This confirms that the location of the battle was unchanged in the TV continuity.
+
*Robb mentions that "the Lannisters have been running from us since [[Oxcross]]." This is the first time that the [[Battle of Oxcross]] has actually been referred to by name on-screen. The battle occurred in the fourth episode of Season 2, "[[Garden of Bones]]," but up until this point ''Game of Thrones Wiki'' has been conjecturally referring to it as the "Battle of Oxcross" based on information from the books. This confirms that the location of the battle was unchanged in the TV continuity.
 
*The new strategy the Lannisters are using post-Oxcross is called a [[Wikipedia:Fabian strategy|Fabian strategy]] in real-life, so-named after the Roman general Fabius Maximus Cunctator. After the Carthaginian general Hannibal destroyed the Roman army at Cannae in 216 B.C., the Roman Senate finally realized that it would be all but impossible to defeat Hannibal in a pitched battle. Instead, they wasted no resources on attempts to give battle, falling back and harassing Hannibal's forces to wear down his supplies.
 
*The new strategy the Lannisters are using post-Oxcross is called a [[Wikipedia:Fabian strategy|Fabian strategy]] in real-life, so-named after the Roman general Fabius Maximus Cunctator. After the Carthaginian general Hannibal destroyed the Roman army at Cannae in 216 B.C., the Roman Senate finally realized that it would be all but impossible to defeat Hannibal in a pitched battle. Instead, they wasted no resources on attempts to give battle, falling back and harassing Hannibal's forces to wear down his supplies.
*Bronn dismissively tells Ser Meryn Trant that he is more skilled at beating helpless girls than at fighting real men; Meryn publicly beat Sansa Stark in front of the entire court, also in "Garden of Bones".
+
*Bronn dismissively tells Ser Meryn Trant that he is more skilled at beating helpless girls than at fighting real men; Meryn publicly beat Sansa Stark in front of the entire court, also in "Garden of Bones."
 
*Tywin Lannister says that three out of the Seven Kingdoms are in open rebellion. The North and the Iron Islands are clearly in revolt, but it isn't clear if he is counting the Riverlands as the third kingdom, or considering them an extension of the North, in which case the third "kingdom" is the Stormlands under Stannis. Tywin might consider Stannis such a spent force that he doesn't counter the Stormlands as in "open rebellion" anymore. After the Battle of the Blackwater, several of the Stormlords are captured and bend the knee, leaving Stannis only Storm's End and some of the Lords of the Narrow Sea that remain loyal to him.
 
*Tywin Lannister says that three out of the Seven Kingdoms are in open rebellion. The North and the Iron Islands are clearly in revolt, but it isn't clear if he is counting the Riverlands as the third kingdom, or considering them an extension of the North, in which case the third "kingdom" is the Stormlands under Stannis. Tywin might consider Stannis such a spent force that he doesn't counter the Stormlands as in "open rebellion" anymore. After the Battle of the Blackwater, several of the Stormlords are captured and bend the knee, leaving Stannis only Storm's End and some of the Lords of the Narrow Sea that remain loyal to him.
**The ''HBO Go'' Interactive Features confirms that Tywin means The North, the Iron Islands, and the Stormlands (Stannis, even if he's been driven back to Dragonstone), as three different rebel factions. Thus he generally refers Robb's entire domain, which he claims as both the North and the Riverlands, as "the North". It is also possible that Tywin didn't include the Riverlands as a 'Kingdom' as historically it was part of the Kingdom of the Isles and the Rivers, having been conquered by the ironborn.
+
**The ''HBO Go'' Interactive Features confirms that Tywin means The North, the Iron Islands, and the Stormlands (Stannis, even if he's been driven back to Dragonstone), as three different rebel factions. Thus he generally refers Robb's entire domain, which he claims as both the North and the Riverlands, as "the North." It is also possible that Tywin didn't include the Riverlands as a "Kingdom" as historically it was part of the Kingdom of the Isles and the Rivers, having been conquered by the ironborn.
 
*When Tyrion asks for at least some gratitude for his vital role in the defense of the city during the Battle of the Blackwater, his father Tywin bluntly brushes his request aside by saying that Lannisters don't do things to earn rewards. However, Tywin himself arranged for Joffrey to award him with the made-up title of "[[Savior of the City]]" as a reward for his role in the same battle.
 
*When Tyrion asks for at least some gratitude for his vital role in the defense of the city during the Battle of the Blackwater, his father Tywin bluntly brushes his request aside by saying that Lannisters don't do things to earn rewards. However, Tywin himself arranged for Joffrey to award him with the made-up title of "[[Savior of the City]]" as a reward for his role in the same battle.
*[[Balerion (ship)|The ship that Daenerys sails in]] was actually a re-use of a prop ship designed and built by [[Gemma Jackson]]'s production team for [[Season 2]], which appeared on fire during the [[Battle of the Blackwater]] (possibly the same prop ship used for [[Fury]] or [[Black Betha]]). The ship was constructed in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, and it wouldn't have made sense to move it for scenes entirely set on the ship, so all of Daenerys' scenes on the ship were filmed in Northern Ireland. This makes it the only scene [[Emilia Clarke]] filmed in Northern Ireland instead of Morocco for Season 3. Filming for the scene took only one day.<ref>[http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/2013/4/17/behind-the-scenes-of-the-first-three-episodes.html Making Game of Thrones blog], April 17, 2013</ref>
+
*[[Balerion (ship)|The ship that Daenerys sails in]] was actually a re-use of a prop ship designed and built by [[Gemma Jackson]]'s production team for [[Season 2]], which appeared on fire during the [[Battle of the Blackwater]]. The series actually only has one prop-boat (as they are quite expensive) which they redress to represent every scene taking place on a ship in the TV series, i.e., the same prop ship was also ''[[Fury]]'' and ''[[Black Betha]]'' in the Battle of the Blackwater. The ship was constructed in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, and it wouldn't have made sense to move it for scenes entirely set on the ship, so all of Daenerys' scenes on the ship were filmed in Northern Ireland. This makes it the only scene [[Emilia Clarke]] filmed in Northern Ireland instead of Morocco for Season 3. Filming for the scene took only one day.<ref>[http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/2013/4/17/behind-the-scenes-of-the-first-three-episodes.html Making Game of Thrones blog], April 17, 2013</ref>
  +
*This episode was nominated for three 2013 Primetime Emmy awards: for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Single-Camera Series, Outstanding Visual Effects, and Outstanding Art Director For A Single-Camera Series.<ref>http://www.emmys.com/shows/game-thrones</ref> It went on to win the award for Outstanding Visual Effects.<ref>[http://www.hitfix.com/news/creative-arts-emmys-2013-complete-winners-list/5 ]</ref>
 
==Memorable Quotes==
 
'''Queen [[Cersei Lannister]]''': ''[referring to Tyrion's new quarters]'' "A bit of a comedown from chamber of the Hand. But then I don't suppose you need much room."<br />
 
'''[[Tyrion Lannister]]''': "[[Grand Maester]] [[Pycelle]] made the same joke. You must be proud to be as funny as a man whose balls brush his knees."
 
 
<hr width="50%"/>'''Tyrion''': "I want what is mine by right. Jaime is your eldest son, heir to your lands and titles, but he is a [[Kingsguard]], forbidden from marriage or inheritance. The day Jaime put on the white cloak he gave up his claim to [[Casterly Rock]]. I am your son and lawful heir."<br />
 
'''Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]''': "You want Casterly Rock?"<br />
 
'''Tyrion''': "It is mine by right."<br />
 
'''Tywin''': ''[sighs]'' "We'll find you accommodations more suited to your name and as a reward for your accomplishments during the [[Battle of the Blackwater|Battle of Blackwater Bay]]. And when the time is right, you will be given a position fit for your talents so that you can serve your family and protect our legacy. And if you serve faithfully, you will be rewarded with a suitable wife - And I would let myself be consumed by maggots before mocking the family name and making you heir to Casterly Rock."<br />
 
'''Tyrion''': "Why?"<br />
 
'''Tywin''': ''"Why''? You ask that? You who killed [[Joanna Lannister|your mother]] to come into the world? You are ''an ill-made, spiteful little creature'' full of envy, lust, and low cunning. Men's laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors since I cannot prove that you are not mine. And to teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father's sigil and his father's before him. But neither gods nor men will ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse. Go, now. Speak no more of your rights to Casterly Rock. Go!"<br />
 
   
 
==In the books==
 
==In the books==
 
:''See [[Differences between books and TV series - Season 3#Valar Dohaeris]]''
 
:''See [[Differences between books and TV series - Season 3#Valar Dohaeris]]''
 
*The episode is adapted from the following chapters of ''A Clash of Kings'':
 
**Chapter 64, Daenerys V: [[Daenerys Targaryen]] is saved from an assassin sent by the [[Warlocks]] of [[Qarth]]. Her [[Barristan Selmy|benefactor]] swears himself to her service.
 
*The episode is adapted from the following chapters of ''A Storm of Swords'':
 
*The episode is adapted from the following chapters of ''A Storm of Swords'':
 
**Chapter 1, Prologue: The [[White Walkers]] attack the [[Night's Watch]] in a battle at the [[Fist of the First Men]].
 
**Chapter 1, Prologue: The [[White Walkers]] attack the [[Night's Watch]] in a battle at the [[Fist of the First Men]].
Line 167: Line 158:
 
**Chapter 5, Tyrion I: [[Tyrion Lannister]] recovers from his injury. He asks [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]] for his inheritance of [[Casterly Rock]], but is refused.
 
**Chapter 5, Tyrion I: [[Tyrion Lannister]] recovers from his injury. He asks [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]] for his inheritance of [[Casterly Rock]], but is refused.
 
**Chapter 6, Davos I: [[Davos Seaworth]], marooned on a spit of land after the [[Battle of the Blackwater]], is rescued by [[Salladhor Saan]].
 
**Chapter 6, Davos I: [[Davos Seaworth]], marooned on a spit of land after the [[Battle of the Blackwater]], is rescued by [[Salladhor Saan]].
**Chapter 8, Jon I: [[Jon Snow]] is brought before [[Mance Rayder]], who allows him to join the Free Folk.
+
**Chapter 8, Jon I: [[Jon Snow]] is brought before [[Mance Rayder]], who allows him to join the [[Free Folk]].
**Chapter 9, Daenerys I: [[Daenerys Targaryen]], along with [[Jorah Mormont]] and what remains of her khalasar, sails for [[Astapor]].
+
**Chapter 9, Daenerys I: Daenerys, along with [[Jorah Mormont]] and what remains of her ''[[khalasar]]'', sails for [[Astapor]].
 
**Chapter 11, Davos II: Davos reveals his plan to kill [[Melisandre]] to Salladhor Saan, who tries and fails to dissuade him. Davos returns to [[Dragonstone]], where he is arrested and thrown in the castle dungeon.
 
**Chapter 11, Davos II: Davos reveals his plan to kill [[Melisandre]] to Salladhor Saan, who tries and fails to dissuade him. Davos returns to [[Dragonstone]], where he is arrested and thrown in the castle dungeon.
 
**Chapter 19, Samwell I: [[Samwell Tarly]] flees from the Fist of the First Men, and fails to send ravens warning [[Castle Black]] about the attack.
 
**Chapter 19, Samwell I: [[Samwell Tarly]] flees from the Fist of the First Men, and fails to send ravens warning [[Castle Black]] about the attack.
 
**Chapter 24, Daenerys II: Daenerys meets [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] and his slave [[Missandei]] to inspect the [[Unsullied]], and expresses ethical doubts about buying an army of slaves.
 
**Chapter 24, Daenerys II: Daenerys meets [[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] and his slave [[Missandei]] to inspect the [[Unsullied]], and expresses ethical doubts about buying an army of slaves.
  +
*The episode is adapted from the following chapters of ''A Clash of Kings'':
 
 
==Memorable quotes==
**Chapter 64, Daenerys V: Daenerys is saved from an assassin sent by the [[Warlocks]] of [[Qarth]]. Her [[Barristan Selmy|benefactor]] swears himself to her service.
 
 
'''Queen [[Cersei Lannister]]''': ''[referring to Tyrion's new quarters]'' "A bit of a comedown from chamber of the Hand. But then I don't suppose you need much room."<br />
 
'''[[Tyrion Lannister]]''': "[[Grand Maester]] [[Pycelle]] made the same joke. You must be proud to be as funny as a man whose balls brush his knees."<br />
  +
  +
<hr width="50%"/>'''[[Tormund Giantsbane]]''': "I smell a ''Crow''."
  +
 
<hr width="50%"/>'''Tyrion''': "I want what is mine by right. Jaime is your eldest son, heir to your lands and titles, but he is a [[Kingsguard]], forbidden from marriage or inheritance. The day Jaime put on the white cloak he gave up his claim to [[Casterly Rock]]. I am your son and lawful heir."<br />
 
'''Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]''': "You want Casterly Rock?"<br />
 
'''Tyrion''': "It is mine by right."<br />
 
'''Tywin''': ''[sighs]'' "We'll find you accommodations more suited to your name and as a reward for your accomplishments during the [[Battle of the Blackwater|Battle of Blackwater Bay]]. And when the time is right, you will be given a position fit for your talents so that you can serve your family and protect our legacy. And if you serve faithfully, you will be rewarded with a suitable wife–And I would let myself be consumed by maggots before mocking the family name and making you heir to Casterly Rock."<br />
 
'''Tyrion''': "Why?"<br />
 
'''Tywin''': ''"Why''? You ask that? You who killed [[Joanna Lannister|your mother]] to come into the world? You are ''an ill-made, spiteful little creature'' full of envy, lust, and low cunning. Men's laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors since I cannot prove that you are not mine. And to teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father's sigil and his father's before him. But neither gods nor men will ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse. Go, now. Speak no more of your rights to Casterly Rock. Go!"<br />
   
 
==Marketing==
 
==Marketing==
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==References==
 
==References==
 
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[[Category:Season 3]]
 
[[Category:Season 3]]
 
[[Category:Season 3 Episodes]]
 
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Revision as of 02:20, 21 August 2015

"Valar Dohaeris" is the first episode of the third season of Game of Thrones. It is the twenty-first episode of the series overall.

Plot

Jon is brought before Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, while the Night's Watch survivors retreat south. In King's Landing, Tyrion asks for his reward, Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out, and Cersei hosts a dinner for the royal family. Dany sails into Slaver's Bay.

Summary

Beyond the Wall

Ghost Attacks a Wite

Ghost attacks a wight

In a prologue scene, shouts and sword clashes are heard in the darkness as the White Walkers and their army of undead wights attack the men of the Night's Watch off-screen in the Battle of the Fist of the First Men. Samwell Tarly is then seen alive, wandering through a blizzard in search of safety. He sees another man of the Night's Watch up ahead but soon finds that he has been decapitated. Just then, a wight approaches Sam and is about to attack him with an axe, when the direwolf Ghost knocks it down. Ghost continues to tear at its legs as it pulls itself forward inch by inch towards Sam. Finally, the wight is lit on fire and destroyed by a torch, revealed to belong to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Mormont has managed to rally the few dozen survivors out of his original three hundred men at the Fist of the First Men. Mormont is angry that Sam wasn't able to send off any messenger-ravens in the confusion of the attack. Mormont announces that they must retreat back to the Wall, not simply to save their own lives but because Castle Black and the rest of Westeros must be warned of the coming threat―otherwise everyone they've ever known will die.

Meanwhile, Jon Snow is led by Ygritte and the Lord of Bones into the main wildling camp in the Frostfangs mountains. It is not simply an army camp - almost all of wildling society is on the move to escape the White Walkers, including women and children. As they enter the camp, Jon is shocked to see a real-life giant walk past.

Giant working S3 Ep1

Giant carrying mammoth bones

Many of the wildlings are surprised to see Jon in his all-black Night's Watch clothing and shout "Crow!" at his approach. Several young boys pelt Jon with ice and small stones, but Ygritte shoos them away.

Jon is led into the tent of King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, where the Lord of Bones explains that he is Ned Stark's bastard son to a large man with a heavy beard who is eating chicken by the fire. He says that he doesn't care, but his interest is piqued on hearing that Jon killed Qhorin Halfhand. As they talk, Jon kneels before the man, whom he assumes to be Mance Rayder, and calls him "Your Grace" as he would a king south of the Wall. This causes all of the wildlings to burst into laughter, as their society does not bother with such ceremony–and because the man actually isn't Mance, but his lieutenant Tormund Giantsbane. The real Mance is an unassuming man sitting in a corner, who then introduces himself and tells Jon to stand, as no man kneels before another among the Free Folk, as they do not recognize a class of nobility in their culture.

Mance says he is glad that Jon killed Qhorin, as he had killed many of Mance's wildlings, though he notes that Qhorin was his brother once, back when he was a member of the Night's Watch and Qhorin had a whole hand. Mance asks Jon why he wants to join them. He replies that he wants to be free, but Mance thinks he just wants to be a hero. Jon then explains that when the Night's Watch camped at Craster's Keep, he saw Craster leave his newborn son in the woods as an offering, and the inhuman creature that took it. Jon says that he wants to leave the Night's Watch because he is disgusted that Mormont already knew what Craster was doing but did nothing to stop it. Jon states that the First Men he is descended from defeated the White Walkers once during The Long Night, and that now he wants "to fight for the side who fights for the living." Mance is satisfied and advises Jon to get a new cloak.

In the Seven Kingdoms

Lucky Bastards

Bronn confronts two Kingsguard

In King's Landing, King Joffrey Baratheon's forces stand victorious after the Battle of the Blackwater. House Lannister's new allies House Tyrell begin to settle into the capital. Tywin Lannister bluntly tells his son Tyrion that he intends to disinherit him. This comes as a shock, because his older brother Jaime gave up all right to inherit his father's lands when he joined the Kingsguard, and Tyrion is rightfully the next in line of succession. For that matter, despite all evidence to the contrary, Tywin refuses to believe that Tyrion was in any way helpful in the defense of the city or during his months as acting Hand of the King. Instead, Tywin obstinately maintains his belief that Tyrion is a whore-mongering, drunken, "ill-made, spiteful little creature," and that he is lying about all of his accomplishments out of envy. Tywin is particularly insulted that Tyrion brought his mistress, Shae, to the capital when Tywin explicitly told him not to, which makes Tywin convince himself that Tyrion was in bed with Shae most of the time while events spiraled out of control. When Tyrion asks why his father is doing this, Tywin is shocked as if Tyrion insulted him, and says it should be obvious as Tyrion "killed" his mother Joanna in childbirth so that he might enter the world. Tywin says that the laws of men say he has to let Tyrion use his family name, but that he wishes he could prove Tyrion wasn't his son, so his very existence would not continue to make a mockery out of the name "Lannister" which he stole from Tywin. Tyrion fumes at the situation to his sellsword Bronn, who has recently been knighted as a reward for his service in the Battle of the Blackwater. He now styles himself as "Ser Bronn of the Blackwater," and while possessing no lands, wealth, or title, this drastically elevates his social standing–and in his mind, his pay.

Meanwhile, Joffrey's ride back from the Great Sept of Baelor in a heavily guarded palanquin is interrupted when his betrothed, Lady Margaery Tyrell, stops the procession in Flea Bottom unexpectedly. Margaery shocks the guards and bewilders Joffrey by getting out and exploring, eventually arriving at an orphanage and interacting with the children. Meanwhile, her servants pass out bread and toys, earning her the love of Flea Bottom's smallfolk. That evening, Joffrey and Cersei visit Margaery and her brother Loras Tyrell for a small dinner party. Cersei admonishes Margaery's boldness and reminds her that her impromptu charity work took place on the same streets where the royal party was assaulted weeks earlier. When Joffrey naively defends Margaery and criticizes his mother, Cersei realizes that she is on the verge of being outmaneuvered. Cersei only knows how to rule through fear, but Margaery knows how to win the love of the people she rules over, a skill Cersei lacks.

Sansa Stark and Shae sit on the docks watching ships arrive and depart. Sansa wants to play a game making up stories about where the ships are headed, but Shae, in typical fashion, is uninterested. Petyr Baelish arrives to speak with Sansa. She displays an eagerness to leave as soon as possible. He suggests that when he next leaves the capital by sea, she might be able to stow away. Sansa advises him not to give her too many details since she is a terrible liar. Meanwhile, Ros, who seems to be acting as Littlefinger's aide, reminisces about the day Sansa was born, when all the bells in Winterfell were rung in celebration. She asks Shae to look out for Sansa, particularly in regards to Littlefinger.

Davos Melisandre assassination S3 E1

Davos tries to kill Melisandre

On Dragonstone, King Stannis Baratheon's shattered forces regroup after being almost totally destroyed in the Battle of the Blackwater. Davos Seaworth is rescued from the sea by Salladhor Saan after being thrown overboard by the wildfire blast in the battle. Forlorn over the death of his son Matthos, Davos feels that Melisandre has led Stannis to disaster, and is horrified to hear from Salladhor that she has begun to conduct human sacrifices. After the defeated remnant of Stannis' forces returned to the island, Melisandre ordered any who spoke out against her to be burned alive as offerings to the Lord of Light. Davos convinces Salladhor to bring him to Dragonstone. He finds Stannis despondent, sitting in the Chamber of the Painted Table alone with Melisandre. Davos openly calls Melisandre his enemy, condemns her for conducting human sacrifices, and says she is leading Stannis astray. She counters that it was Davos who urged Stannis not to bring her to the battle, and implies that it was actually Davos' fault that thousands of their men burned to death, including his own son. At the mention of his son Davos draws a knife on her in a fit of anger, but he is restrained by the guards, and Stannis orders him put in the dungeon.

In the Riverlands, the morale of King Robb Stark's army is starting to wane. They have not had a significant victory since the Battle of Oxcross months ago, and the news of the Lannisters' victory over Stannis and new alliance with the Tyrells piles bad news upon bad news. Robb has won every battle he has ever fought, but the Lannisters finally realized it was too difficult to try to attack him head-on, so they have shifted to the new strategy of simply fleeing ahead of Robb's army. Robb's forces have won many small but also insignificant minor victories, as the Lannisters are now determined to simply wait Robb out and exhaust his army far from home while they slowly rebuild their own numbers and gain new allies. In frustration, Robb launches a new offensive to the east which takes the great castle of Harrenhal, which Tywin had been using it as the main Lannister forward base in the Riverlands during the first year of the war. However, Robb does not find the decisive victory he was hoping for: Tywin withdrew his garrison to King's Landing to counter the attack by Stannis, and didn't even bother wasting any men on a token defense of the castle. Robb and his forces are further demoralized to find that the Lannisters massacred two hundred Northern and Riverlands prisoners of war before they left, and the courtyards are choked with piles of bodies. They do find one survivor, a maester named Qyburn.

Across the Narrow Sea

Daenerys Targaryen's ship arrives at the city of Astapor in Slaver's Bay after leaving Qarth. Daenerys' dragons are continuing to grow, and are now about the size of small dogs. They fly about their ship as it approaches the city, plucking fish from the sea and roasting them in mid-air with their fire-breath.

Burn Sucker BURN!

Drogon roasts a fish

She notes that they are still not big enough to use as weapons of war to invade Westeros with, and that she needs an army. Ser Jorah Mormont notes that the elite warrior-eunuchs produced in Astapor, known as the Unsullied, are said to be among the finest soldiers in the world. Daenerys stresses that they are slave-soldiers, a distinction which may make some look on her negatively in Westeros where slavery is illegal, but Jorah says they have no better ideas for how to acquire an army. Daenerys expresses interest in expanding her tiny Dothraki khalasar (most of them are seasick because the Dothraki have never traveled on ships before), but Jorah says that other Dothraki will only join her if they think she is strong, and for that she needs an army.

Upon arriving at Astapor, Daenerys is given a tour of the Unsullied barracks by the Unsullied's owner, Kraznys mo Nakloz, with his slave girl Missandei translating his Low Valyrian into the Common Tongue of Westeros for Daenerys. They explain that the Unsullied are trained for battle from the age of five, and that only one in four recruits survives the training. Kraznys also demonstrates that the Unsullied do not fear pain or death by slicing off the nipple of one soldier (much to Daenerys's disgust), who not only shows no sign of pain, but thanks the slavemaster for the opportunity to serve him. Kraznys goes on to explain that the Unsullied are trained to show no mercy or weakness by killing a newborn slave child in front of its mother at the end of their training. Daenerys is outraged by this, but still asks how many Unsullied are available. She is told there are eight thousand soldiers for sale and that she has until the next day to make a decision.

En route back to their ship, Ser Jorah urges that Daenerys should purchase the Unsullied, arguing that under her command, these slave soldiers will have a far better quality of life serving her than they would under Kraznys and his ilk. Daenerys is distracted by a playing child following her and Jorah, and neither notice a man in a hooded black cloak following them, armed with a dagger. The child offers a gift to Daenerys - a wooden ball - but as she picks it up, the hooded stranger knocks it out of her hands; Ser Jorah grabs the stranger and their struggle knocks Daenerys to the ground, where to her horror, the ball cracks in half and a manticore emerges to attack. Before the creature can harm Daenerys with its lethal sting, the stranger impales it with his dagger and charges at the child, who hisses in a reptilian manner, baring teeth and features reminiscent of Pyat Pree, and uses magic to escape. Daenerys realizes the assassin was likely an agent of the surviving Warlocks of Qarth.

Barriston Manticore S3 Ep1

Barristan saves Daenerys from a deadly manticore

Turning her attention to her savior, Daenerys is surprised when the man addresses her as his Queen and removes his hood. She asks if Jorah knows the man. A stunned Jorah admits he does; the stranger before them is one of the most skilled fighters in Westeros: Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of Robert Baratheon's Kingsguard. Falling to his knees, Ser Barristan explains that following Robert's death and his dismissal by Joffrey, he has been searching for Daenerys Stormborn, to beg her forgiveness and offer his service, hoping to make amends for failing House Targaryen during and after Robert's Rebellion, when he served in her father's Kingsguard. Barristan hails her as the rightful Queen and asks to serve in her Queensguard.

Recap

Main: Valar Dohaeris recap

A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.

Appearances

Main: Valar Dohaeris/Appearances

First

Production

Cast

Starring

Guest starring

Cast notes

Notes

  • This episode was dedicated to the memory of Martin Kenzie, a cinematographer and second-unit director who worked on "Blackwater" and "Valar Morghulis," who passed away at the age of 56 between Season 2 and Season 3.
  • "Valar Dohaeris" is High Valyrian, the response phrase to "Valar Morghulis," the title of the Season 2 finale. Commonly used in Braavos, "valar morgulis" means "all men must die" (in the sense of "all men must [eventually] die [sooner or later]"), and "valar dohaeris" means "all men must serve." Interestingly, the words are not spoken at any point during the episode, and would not be spoken until "The Climb."
  • This episode marks the introduction of a Low Valyrian language, spoken by Missandei and others in Slaver's Bay. Daenerys has in previous episodes demonstrated an understanding of High Valyrian, the language from which Low Valyrian is derived. High Valyrian was designed by linguist David J. Peterson, who wrote sentences down in the language then applied phonological, semantic and grammatical changes to simulate Ghiscari influence and create the Slaver's Bay Low Valyrian heard in the episode.[1]
  • The storylines of Arya Stark, Bran and Rickon StarkJaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth, and House Greyjoy do not appear in this episode.
  • A few scenes with Arya Stark were filmed for the first episode of Season 3, but it was later decided that the episode was getting over-crowded, so all of Arya's scenes were moved to the next episode. Both episodes have the same director anyway (Daniel Minahan), though the season premiere was written by Benioff and Weiss, while the second episode is written by Vanessa Taylor.[2]
  • This episode marks the introduction of the non-human race of Giants: previous episodes occasionally referred to them in the context of being mythical creatures, but this episode confirms that they are a real race which survives beyond the Wall. In the novels giants are described as being more apelike, forsaking clothes as they are covered in shaggy fur.
  • When Cersei meets Tyrion for the first time after the battle, she says she heard he had lost his nose, but the scar across his face isn't as gruesome as that. In the books, Tyrion did indeed have the front his nose cut off when Ser Mandon Moore attempted to kill him. The TV series decided not to do this as it would have been difficult and expensive to achieve the effect and it would have limited Peter Dinklage's acting performance.
  • There is significant construction work underway in King's Landing, with scaffolding surrounding towers along the walls. The reasons for this are unclear, given that such construction work is not present in the books. It is possible this is meant to show repairs being underway to the city following the battle, even though during the battle there was no indication of King's Landing suffering an artillery bombardment.
  • Robb mentions that "the Lannisters have been running from us since Oxcross." This is the first time that the Battle of Oxcross has actually been referred to by name on-screen. The battle occurred in the fourth episode of Season 2, "Garden of Bones," but up until this point Game of Thrones Wiki has been conjecturally referring to it as the "Battle of Oxcross" based on information from the books. This confirms that the location of the battle was unchanged in the TV continuity.
  • The new strategy the Lannisters are using post-Oxcross is called a Fabian strategy in real-life, so-named after the Roman general Fabius Maximus Cunctator. After the Carthaginian general Hannibal destroyed the Roman army at Cannae in 216 B.C., the Roman Senate finally realized that it would be all but impossible to defeat Hannibal in a pitched battle. Instead, they wasted no resources on attempts to give battle, falling back and harassing Hannibal's forces to wear down his supplies.
  • Bronn dismissively tells Ser Meryn Trant that he is more skilled at beating helpless girls than at fighting real men; Meryn publicly beat Sansa Stark in front of the entire court, also in "Garden of Bones."
  • Tywin Lannister says that three out of the Seven Kingdoms are in open rebellion. The North and the Iron Islands are clearly in revolt, but it isn't clear if he is counting the Riverlands as the third kingdom, or considering them an extension of the North, in which case the third "kingdom" is the Stormlands under Stannis. Tywin might consider Stannis such a spent force that he doesn't counter the Stormlands as in "open rebellion" anymore. After the Battle of the Blackwater, several of the Stormlords are captured and bend the knee, leaving Stannis only Storm's End and some of the Lords of the Narrow Sea that remain loyal to him.
    • The HBO Go Interactive Features confirms that Tywin means The North, the Iron Islands, and the Stormlands (Stannis, even if he's been driven back to Dragonstone), as three different rebel factions. Thus he generally refers Robb's entire domain, which he claims as both the North and the Riverlands, as "the North." It is also possible that Tywin didn't include the Riverlands as a "Kingdom" as historically it was part of the Kingdom of the Isles and the Rivers, having been conquered by the ironborn.
  • When Tyrion asks for at least some gratitude for his vital role in the defense of the city during the Battle of the Blackwater, his father Tywin bluntly brushes his request aside by saying that Lannisters don't do things to earn rewards. However, Tywin himself arranged for Joffrey to award him with the made-up title of "Savior of the City" as a reward for his role in the same battle.
  • The ship that Daenerys sails in was actually a re-use of a prop ship designed and built by Gemma Jackson's production team for Season 2, which appeared on fire during the Battle of the Blackwater. The series actually only has one prop-boat (as they are quite expensive) which they redress to represent every scene taking place on a ship in the TV series, i.e., the same prop ship was also Fury and Black Betha in the Battle of the Blackwater. The ship was constructed in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, and it wouldn't have made sense to move it for scenes entirely set on the ship, so all of Daenerys' scenes on the ship were filmed in Northern Ireland. This makes it the only scene Emilia Clarke filmed in Northern Ireland instead of Morocco for Season 3. Filming for the scene took only one day.[3]
  • This episode was nominated for three 2013 Primetime Emmy awards: for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Single-Camera Series, Outstanding Visual Effects, and Outstanding Art Director For A Single-Camera Series.[4] It went on to win the award for Outstanding Visual Effects.[5]

In the books

See Differences between books and TV series - Season 3#Valar Dohaeris

Memorable quotes

Queen Cersei Lannister: [referring to Tyrion's new quarters] "A bit of a comedown from chamber of the Hand. But then I don't suppose you need much room."
Tyrion Lannister: "Grand Maester Pycelle made the same joke. You must be proud to be as funny as a man whose balls brush his knees."


Tormund Giantsbane: "I smell a Crow."


Tyrion: "I want what is mine by right. Jaime is your eldest son, heir to your lands and titles, but he is a Kingsguard, forbidden from marriage or inheritance. The day Jaime put on the white cloak he gave up his claim to Casterly Rock. I am your son and lawful heir."

Lord Tywin Lannister: "You want Casterly Rock?"
Tyrion: "It is mine by right."
Tywin: [sighs] "We'll find you accommodations more suited to your name and as a reward for your accomplishments during the Battle of Blackwater Bay. And when the time is right, you will be given a position fit for your talents so that you can serve your family and protect our legacy. And if you serve faithfully, you will be rewarded with a suitable wife–And I would let myself be consumed by maggots before mocking the family name and making you heir to Casterly Rock."
Tyrion: "Why?"
Tywin: "Why? You ask that? You who killed your mother to come into the world? You are an ill-made, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning. Men's laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors since I cannot prove that you are not mine. And to teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father's sigil and his father's before him. But neither gods nor men will ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse. Go, now. Speak no more of your rights to Casterly Rock. Go!"

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References

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