Game Of Thrones Season 2 - Episode 8
"The Prince of Winterfell" is the eighth episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. The episode is written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and directed, for the third time in this season, by Alan Taylor. It premiered on May 20, 2012.
Game of Thrones Season 2 - Episode 8
"The Prince of Winterfell" is the eighth episode of the second season of Game of Thrones. It is the eighteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 20, 2012 on HBO. It was written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and directed by Alan Taylor.
Adaptation Distillation: a fair bit is cut from Theon's subplot, particularly a character named "Reek" who was in the dungeons at Winterfell. For the show, his role has been divided up between Dagmar and, uh, someone else who we'll find out a lot more about next season. To learn about the original, see our A Clash of Kings Recap.
A Father to His Men: Ned Stark told Robb that a lord should regard his smallfolk as his children, and worry about them accordingly.
Ask a Stupid Question...: Talisa asks Robb how he is, and he replies that he's arrested his mother, his sisters are held captive by the Lannisters, Theon betrayed him and took his brothers captive, and he doesn't know what he needs to do. Talisa apologizes for asking a stupid question, but Robb doesn't hold it against her.
As You Know: Stannis and Davos discuss more of their backstory while sailing to King's Landing.
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Yara gives a humiliating "The Reason You Suck" Speech to her little brother, but ends up quietly imploring him to come home with her. "Don't die so far from the sea."
Badass Boast: Jaime says there's only three men in the kingdom who might be able take him. Brienne replies with her own Badass Boast.Brienne: All my life men like you have sneered at me, and all my life I've been knocking men like you into the dust.
Chekhov's Gun: That lion pendant Tyrion gave Ros last season comes back to haunt her, when Cersei takes it for a sign that she's Tyrion's new sweetheart.
A Child Shall Lead Them: It's mentioned by Stannis and Davos that Robert had bestowed Storm's End to Renly when he was only a boy.
The Chains of Commanding: Right after discussing the trope, Robb Stark has to put his own mother in irons for treason.
Country Matters: This episode is remarkable for the most uses of the word in a single episode thus far in the show. Surely the best use of the word is from Yara, who asks Theon, "Are you the dumbest cunt alive?" Mainly because the entire audience shouted "YES!!" at the telly.
Didn't Think This Through: Theon faking the deaths of Bran and Rickon turns out to be an example of this. Any statement he might have made by the act is overshadowed by how - in the eyes of everyone else - he sacrificed two very valuable hostages, and in doing so earned the hatred of the entire North.
His greater plan of taking and holding Winterfell for the Greyjoys also turns out this way. It may be the heart and strategic center of the North, but it's also hundreds of miles inland, making it far too impractical for a seagoing people like the Iron Islanders to hold, especially now that Theon's galvanized the North against him. Yara realizes this, and makes clear that she doesn't intend to help Theon garrison the castle.
Yara: We're islanders, baby brother, had you forgotten that? Our strength comes from our ships. And now that you've decorated your walls with the bodies of the Stark boys, every man in the North wants to see you hanged. "Eureka!" Moment: From Tyrion, trying to figure out how to defend Mud Gate from Stannis's forces.Varys: What do we have? [Beat] Tyrion: Pigshit.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Despite their constant arguing, Yara still seems to care about Theon, and begs him to return home with her before his occupation of Winterfell gets him killed.
Even Evil Has Standards: The jury's out on how evil Yara actually is but, Ironborn though she may be, she's disgusted by Theon's (supposed) murder of a six-year-old and a cripple, to say nothing of his stupidity in killing the Stark heirs.
Exact Words: Jaqen's promise to kill anyone Arya asks him to comes back to bite him when she asks him to confirm the terms of the promise, then names him in order to blackmail him into helping her escape.
False ReassuranceTyrion: I wish we could converse as two honest, intelligent men.Vary: I wish we could too.
Friendly Enemy: Tyrion and Varys seem to have moved beyond mere Worthy Opponent level and into this trope.
Frontline General: What Joffrey is insisting on being. Both Cersei and Tyrion doubt his value in command, though the latter notes it will boost morale among the defenders.
Get Out!: Yara shows her control over the unruly Ironborn when she dismisses her men with a quiet, "Leave us." Cersei hisses this at Tyrion after he vows to get even with her for holding Ros as a hostage against him.
Guile Heroine: Arya 'names' Jaqen, then only agrees to take back the name if he helps them escape Harrenhall.
He Knows Too Much: Dagmer tells Theon he killed the farmer so the old man couldn't blab that they killed the orphan boys in place of Bran and Rickon.
I Owe You My Life: In a manner of speaking. Lady Talisa watched as a fishing boat slave saved her brother's life with some CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable (shoving her out of the way to do it, which could have cost his life). She decided to learn healing arts, which is why she's a Combat Medic, and never to live in a slave city again, which is why she's in Westeros.
Mistaken Identity: Cersei decides to go after Tyrion's whore in order to punish him for sending off Myrcella. (Un)fortunately, the woman Cersei has captured and beaten is not Shae, but Ros.
The Mole: Qhorin starts setting Jon up to become one, berating him for his stupidity getting men killed so the Wildings might buy that he wants to defect.
Nay-Theist: Tyrion is of the opinion that most of the gods he's heard about are "vicious cunts," but likes the sound of the Summer Islanders' sixteen-breasted fertility goddess.
Never Trust a Trailer: The preview had Ygritte telling Rattleshirt that Jon is Ned's son, followed by Rattleshirt ordering his death. In fact, the latter happens first, and then Ygritte reveals that he's Ned's son, to convince Rattleshirt that he'll be a valuable hostage.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The other Night Watch rangers got killed because Jon couldn't bring himself to execute Ygritte.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Jaqen killing the guards so that Arya, Hot Pie and Gendry can escape from Harrenhal.
Oh, Crap!: Jaqen is caught quite off guard when Arya orders him to kill himself, and is soon begging her to take it back.
Tyrion gives a tired version, upon hearing about Daenerys' dragons.From the books... This a change from the books, where no one in King's Landing has heard about Dany's dragons at this point; and even when they do hear, in Book Four, they don't believe it.
Inverted when Cersei tells Tyrion that she's got Shae. Tyrion manages to keep a straight face when he thinks she's in danger, and manages to fake a restrained version of this reaction when he finds out that Cersei actually has the wrong woman.
Passive Aggressive Combat: Yara effortlessly upstages the so-called 'Prince of Winterfell' from the moment of her arrival.
Pet the Dog: Tywin leaving Arya in Harrenhal rather than bringing her into the war theater where she'd be at a higher risk for death/injury. Somewhat subverted, perhaps, since he's leaving her with Gregor Clegane and people like Rorge and Biter.
The Greyjoys have thus far been portrayed as ruthless bastards, but Yara gains sympathy through her praise for the Stark boys' bravery, her revulsion at Theon's deeds, and the dutiful family love she nonetheless attempts to extend to her brother.
The Promise: Of the unfriendly variety.Tyrion: I will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you will know the debt is paid.
Revenge by Proxy: Cersei promises to do this to the woman she thinks is Tyrion's lover if Joffrey is hurt in the battle.
Right Under Their Noses: Bran, Rickon, Osha and Hodor doubled back after the farm and are hiding in the crypts of Winterfell.
Running Gag: A short one involving how to pronounce the name of Archmaester Ch'vyalthan between Tyrion and Bronn. Varys finally settles it.
"Shut Up" Kiss: Talisa, the last thing Robb cares about right now is that bridge.
Spoiler Opening: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, who plays Bran, is still in the opening credits, which gives away that Bran's still alive. Then again, Sean Bean was still in the opening credits for the final episode of season 1, and it did not help poor Ned one bit.
Stealth Insult: When Cersei asks, "Do you think I'm an idiot?", Tyrion replies, "No, I'd say you possess above-average intelligence," as in, she's above average, but still a long way beneath Tyrion.
Unfortunately Tyrion misses Shae's expression when he insists, "Tell me you're mine." As he pointed out to Cersei, you only rent a whore's affection, you don't own it.
The Strategist: Tyrion and Bronn both show their skill at this, though everything Tyrion knows about it comes from books, while Bronn actually has personal experience of being under siege.
They Do: Robb and Lady Talisa become a couple in this episode.
Tranquil Fury: Tyrion is quite chilling when he threatens Cersei, to the point that her Smug Smiler composure noticeably cracks.
Trauma Conga Line: Poor, poor Ros. First, she saw her friend's baby murdered in front of her. Then, when she had the gall to be upset about it, Littlefinger threatened to sell her into some unmentionably terrible fate. Then Joffrey forced her at crossbow-point to brutalize another of her friends. And now Cersei has her arrested, beaten, and threatened with torture if Tyrion angers her. She really should have stayed up north.
The Triple: Jaime to Brienne.Jaime: Have you known many men? Women? Horses?
Uriah Gambit: Cersei accuses Tyrion of this being his motive behind letting Joffrey fight in the upcoming battle. Tyrion doesn't actually deny it, and it's pretty clear from past episodes that he would not be the slightest bit upset if Joffrey did get himself killed, but it's debatable whether he's actually planning this.
We ARE Struggling Together: Tyrion tries to get Cersei to understand that with Stannis bearing down on them, this is not the time to be fighting each other. She laughs at him, apparently still unable to understand that Tyrion's role as The Strategist compensates for his lack of personal skill in battle.
What the Hell, Hero?: Catelyn gets this from everyone for releasing Jaime, and Robb orders her to be arrested.
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