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

before his death. We are given hints that there is more to the Lannister secret than originally thought and wonder if knowledge of this bastard will affect the inheritance of the throne.
     The Greyjoys hold a dishonored status for having rebelled against Robert in the beginning of his reign.
     “The Mountain” had burned his little brother “The Hound” by holding his face in fire as punishment for playing with his toy.
     Ser Hugh, who was Jon Arryn’s squire, had been inexplicably knighted and given brand new armor just after Arryn’s death.
     Petyr Baelish takes a special interest in Sansa, a disturbing thought for viewers.

Introducing . . . The Outsiders
    Jon Snow is Ned Stark’s bastard son and therefore has no claim on any family holdings. He was never given any information about his mother and although obviously loved by his father, has never been shown any affection from Cat. She resents Jon because he is a constant reminder of Ned’s wrongdoing. Despite his outsider status, he has managed to maintain close relationships with his father and siblings. He understands that he must go into the world and make his own name because he has no rights to Ned’s stronghold even though he is Ned’s firstborn male. Jon chooses to “take the black” and serve at The Wall as one of the Night’s Watchmen. His uncle Benjen is a ranger of the Night’s Watch and Jon has grown up with a much romanticized view of what life is like at The Wall. Despite his being a bastard, he still arrives at The Wall with an air of entitlement and attitude of superiority over the others. He slowly realizes the reality of life as a brother of the Night’s Watch and has to draw on the values of duty and honor with which he was raised in order to accept his choice. Jon names his direwolf Ghost.
    Theon Greyjoy, a descendent of the Iron Islands, has been Ned Stark’s ward since age eight. The Greyjoys attempted a rebellion against the newly crowned King Robert and failed miserably. Theon is a glorified prisoner of Ned’s and serves as Robb’s steward; although, they share more of a brotherly relationship than that of master/servant. He gives Robb advice on warfare and how to handle situations. Theon still takes pride in his lineage, proclaiming at one point that the Greyjoys are known for their skills in “bedding women and archery.” He falls in love with a red haired prostitute named Ros, who is recommended by all her customers. The Stark family treats him more like family than a prisoner, but that does not stop outsiders, such as Tyrion, from pointing out the truth. Theon appears to be loyal to the Starks, saving Robb and Bran from a Wildling attack and pledging his sword to Robb when he is declared king in the North.

Episode 5: The Wolf and The Lion
    There are many secrets revealed in this mid-season episode. We begin with Ned speaking with Ser Barristan, captain of the King’s Guard, about Ser Hugh. He questions how he became a knight and notices that his expensive new armor had never been scratched. Ned then speaks with Robert and Robert rants about being fed up with all the blond Lannisters surrounding him. He tells Ned that Cersei insisted on Lancell being his squire and that Arryn had insisted on his marrying Cersei. This way Robert would have Tywin Lannister’s power and money on his side. As Ned leaves the King’s company, the eunuch, Varys, pulls him aside and tells him about a certain poison that is undetectable. He hints that Arryn must have been poisoned by someone trusted who was able to get close enough to have administered it. All signs point to Arryn’s squire, the recently deceased Ser Hugh, having been rewarded with knighthood for poisoning Arryn. At this point it is obvious to the audience that the Lannister twins are behind the murder because they are trying to cover up the fact that all of the queen’s children are Jaime’s, not Robert’s. This, of course, has far reaching implications regarding the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. We are not the only ones in on the secret, either. As Arya is hiding in the dragon skulls in the dungeon, conversation is overheard between Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos and Varys about their knowledge of the queen’s secret. They say there is going to be a fight between the wolf and the lion, the sigils of the Stark and Lannister Houses.
    The joust continues and we are introduced to Ser Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers. This same knight later shaves the