Game of Thrones Season One Ultimate Unofficial Guide: The Game of Thrones Season 1

dangerous flaws of Prince Joffrey. She names her direwolf Lady.
    The other Stark daughter, Arya, is very much the opposite of her older sister and what is expected of a female in their society. She is a smart, athletic tomboy defiant of authority. Everything about her screams leader. Arya sees the world for what it is and does not underestimate the people around her, good or bad. She shares a special relationship with Jon because they are both different and can relate to each other about their status as outsiders; his as a bastard and hers as a tomboy. Arya identifies with her father because she does not listen to what she is told and instead acts upon her own knowledge of the world. Arya sees right through Prince Joffrey’s façade, unlike her sister Sansa. Arya names her direwolf Nymeria.
    Ned and Cat’s next son is Brandon, or Bran, a ten year old adventurous boy with a good humored nature. He is being groomed to be a man, but still ventures off to be a boy, as when he is seen climbing the castle’s outside walls. He has lived a relatively carefree life because he does not have the weight of the responsibility of taking his father’s place someday. Bran was born during a long summer and has not seen much strife in his lifetime. He has some sort of spiritual connection with the world, as hinted at when he awakens from his coma upon the death of Sansa’s direwolf and the ominous recurring dream he has about the family crypt. As second male of the family, his desire is to become a knight in the Kingsguard. Bran names his direwolf Summer.
    The youngest of the Stark family is a boy named Rickon. We are not introduced to him until after a few episodes. He is sensitive and shares the spiritual connection that Bran has, but seems to put more faith in what he sees and dreams than Bran does. It is difficult to predict the importance of his role in the story so far. Rickon’s direwolf is named Shaggydog.

Episode 3: Lord Snow
    We begin with Ned Stark’s arrival at King’s Landing. He is immediately taken to the council chambers. He and Jaime Lannister exchange jabbing words about the death of Ned’s father and brother and the way in which Jaime killed the “Mad King.” The other council members arrive, who include the King’s homosexual younger brother, a eunuch, a brothel owner, and a forgetful old man. Ned is updated on the condition of the treasury and the state of the kingdom. It is obvious to the audience that Ned’s presence in the Capital is neither appreciated nor wanted by those close to the King, leaving us fearful of Ned’s fate. Meanwhile, we are taken to a scene of the Queen grooming Joffrey for kingship while tending to his wolf bite. We get a glimpse of the arrogance and ignorance prominent in this child. These traits combined with his cowardice make the viewer fear for the day he takes the throne. After council, Ned talks with Arya about the wolf attack incident and gives her kind fatherly advice. The audience is able to see the contrast between the two parenting methods, that of the Queen and that of Ned, and the way in which they affect the children.
    Cat arrives in King’s Landing and is surprised to be escorted to the brothels by her childhood friend Petyr Baelish. She was under the impression that no one knew of her arrival. She learns that the knife used in the attempted murder of their son belonged to Petyr, who had lost it in a wager to Tyrion Lannister. While she and Ned conspire about the next steps to take, the Lannister twins conspire to make sure their love affair is kept secret at any cost. The king shares war stories with the captain of his guard and Jaime Lannister. The king is tended to by his squire, Lancell Lannister, who is the Queen’s cousin. We learn that Aerys (The Mad King) Targaryen’s last words were “burn them all.”
    On the Dothraki side of the story, Viserys’ ego is wounded when he gets enraged at his sister for giving him commands and the Khal punish him for insulting their queen. They obey her commands, not his, which hurts his pride since he feels he is already their king and should be recognized as such. We learn that Daenerys is pregnant, an event that leads to her having even more confidence and power. Upon hearing this news, Jorah abruptly rides for Qohor, a free city neighboring Pentos.
    At The Wall, Jon is disappointed to learn that he cannot ride with his uncle Benjen out on patrol. He feels he is ready to be a ranger, but is denied the privilege.