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The Ghost of Harrenhal

"The Ghost of Harrenhal" is the fifth episode of the second season of Game of
Thrones. It is the fifteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on April The Ghost of Harrenhal
29, 2012. It was written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss and directed by David
Season 2 Episode 5
Petrarca.

Contents [show]

Plot
The end of the Baratheon rivalry drives Catelyn to flee and Littlefinger to act. At
Air date April 29, 2012
King's Landing, Tyrion's source alerts him to Joffrey's flawed defense plan and
Runtime 55 minutes
a mysterious secret weapon. Theon sails to the Stony Shore to prove he's
Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
worthy to be called Ironborn. In Harrenhal, Arya receives a promise from Jaqen
Directed by David Petrarca
H'ghar, one of three prisoners she saved from the Gold Cloaks. The Night's
Episode Guide
Watch arrive at the Fist of the First Men, an ancient fortress where they hope to
Previous Next
stem the advance of the wildling army.
"Garden of Bones" "The Old Gods and the
New"

Summary
In the Stormlands
King Renly Baratheon is assassinated by the Shadow brought into the world by Melisandre
and fathered by Stannis Baratheon just after agreeing to an alliance with King Robb Stark. His
kingsguard Brienne is mistakenly blamed for the death and she flees the camp with Catelyn
Stark. Brienne later swears fealty to Catelyn. Renly's army disintegrates, with the forces of
House Tyrell fleeing to Highgarden and the rest of his bannermen joining his brother King
King Renly is assassinated.
Stannis. Lord Petyr Baelish accompanies the Tyrell faction, sensing an opportunity to sway
them to Joffrey's side. Ser Davos Seaworth challenges King Stannis on his use of
Melisandre's magic and convinces him to leave Melisandre behind when they attack King's Landing to quash rumors of her
influence on him. Stannis places Davos in command of his fleet. When he is alone in his tent, Stannis briefly fights against the
tears, showing he does in fact grieve for his younger brother.

In King's Landing
Hand of the King Tyrion Lannister brings news of Renly's death to his sister, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. She is pleased, but
Tyrion predicts Stannis's imminent attack. He tries to discuss plans for their defense, but she insists on keeping them secret.
From his spy, his cousin Ser Lancel Lannister, Tyrion learns that Cersei has been having extensive meetings with the
Alchemists' Guild.

He visits Wisdom Hallyne of the guild and learns that they have stockpiled thousands of jars of Wildfire, a dangerously
flammable substance, to use as catapult ammunition. Bronn warns that this strategy could be disastrous, and result in panicking
defenders accidentally burning down their own city. Tyrion orders Hallyne to answer to him instead of Cersei. Tyrion also passes

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a street protest that blames him for the ills of the city, as they believe Tyrion to be
manipulating Joffrey.

At Lordsport
Theon Greyjoy takes command of his new ship and finds his crew insubordinate. His first
mate Dagmer Cleftjaw tells him that he needs to prove himself to the men and Theon plans to Tyrion discovers the Wildfire.
raid Torrhen's Square to draw the remaining forces of House Stark from Winterfell. His plan is
successful and Ser Rodrik Cassel leads a force of 200 men to relieve his siege of Torrhen's
Square.

At Winterfell
Bran Stark provides well judged counsel to his subjects but continues to be troubled by his
dreams. He discusses dreaming of a Three-Eyed Raven with the wildling woman Osha but
she declines to interpret the dream. He also confides dreaming of the sea flooding Winterfell
and drowning his people, including Ser Rodrik.

At Harrenhal
Tywin Lannister hosts a protracted war council to determine a new strategy to deal with Robb.
Arya Stark serves as his cupbearer. Though he does not know who she really is, Tywin
realizes that she is of northern extraction and questions her about her origins and opinions
regarding Robb. She manages to avoid revealing her true identity. She leaves to fetch water
Theon and Dagmer prepare to
and encounters Jaqen H'ghar, now a Lannister man-at-arms. Jaqen says that because she
invade the North.
saved his life, and those of his two fellow prisoners, he owes her three deaths and offers to
kill three people of her choosing. She targets the Tickler, Ser Gregor Clegane's torturer.

The Tickler is soon found dead in the courtyard, his neck twisted 180 degrees. Arya notices Jaqen on the walkway above and he
holds a single finger to his face to signify his responsibility.

At the Fist of the First Men

Lord Commander Jeor Mormont leads his ranging to the ancient Fist of the First Men to
rendezvous with the experienced scout Qhorin Halfhand. Qhorin arrives and warns Jeor that
they must change their tactics to combat the wildling army under King-Beyond-the-Wall
Mance Rayder. He suggests sending a small party ahead to neutralize Mance's lookouts in
the Skirling Pass. Jon Snow joins Qhorin's group, while Samwell Tarly takes his task as the
The Night's Watch and Ghost on
steward of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont.
the Fist of the First Men.
In Qarth
Daenerys Targaryen has taught her dragons to breathe fire on command and they are now
capable of sharing and eating meat on their own. She is enjoying the hospitality of the wealthy
noble Xaro Xhoan Daxos in the city of Qarth. He hosts a gathering in her honor in the gardens
of his home. She is perturbed by the tricks of the warlock Pyat Pree, who invites her to visit
the House of the Undying.
Drogon, breathing fire for the first
The masked woman Quaithe delivers an enigmatic warning to Ser Jorah Mormont about
time.
Daenerys's need for protection from those who lust after her dragons. Xaro offers to fund

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Daenerys's invasion of Westeros in exchange for her hand in marriage. Later, she seeks Jorah's advice about the proposal and
he cautions against accepting financial aid. He suggests that she will be able to win her throne should she reach Westeros with
just a single ship. He reveals his depth of feeling for her but she does not return his affections.

Recap

Main: The Ghost of Harrenhal recap

A detailed recap of the episode scene by scene.

Appearances

Main:The Ghost of Harrenhal/Appearances

First
Ser Emmon Cuy
Ser Robar Royce
Reginald Lannister
Wisdom Hallyne
Lorren
Drennan
Dagmer
Malakho
Quaithe
Qhorin Halfhand
Harker
Stonesnake
Borba

Deaths
King Renly Baratheon
Ser Emmon Cuy
Ser Robar Royce
The Tickler

Cast

Starring Guest starring

Michelle Fairley as Lady Catelyn Tully Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin

Aidan Gillen as Lord Petyr Baelish Roy Dotrice as Wisdom Hallyne
Natalie Dormer as Queen Margaery Tyrell Ron Donachie as Ser Rodrik Cassel
Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
Peter Dinklage as Lord Tyrion Lannister Natalia Tena as Osha
Jerome Flynn as Ser Bronn Gethin Anthony as King Renly Baratheon

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Stephen Dillane as King Stannis Baratheon Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree

Liam Cunningham as Ser Davos Seaworth Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar
Alfie Allen as Prince Theon Greyjoy Joe Dempsie as Gendry
Maisie Williams as Pincess Arya Stark Eugene Simon as Ser Lancel Lannister
Charles Dance as Lord Tywin Lannister Simon Armstrong as Qhorin Halfhand
Kit Harington as Jon Snow Mark Stanley as Grenn
John Bradley as Samwell Tarly Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
James Cosmo as Lord Jeor Mormont Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett
Emilia Clarke as Queen Daenerys Targaryen Roxanne McKee as Doreah
Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont Amrita Acharia as Irri
Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Prince Bran Stark Steven Cole as Kovarro
Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Gemma Whelan as Princess Yara Greyjoy
Kristian Nairn as Hodor
Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie
Ralph Ineson as Dagmer Cleftjaw
Forbes KB as Black Lorren
Fintan McKeown as Ser Amory Lorch
Edward Tudor Pole as a Protestor
Laura Pradelska as Quaithe
Patrick Fitzsymons as Reginald Lannister
Art Parkinson as Prince Rickon Stark
Aimee Richardson as Princess Myrcella Baratheon
Anthony Morris as the Tickler
Donagh Deeney as a Winterfell shepherd
Kristina Krepela as a Qartheen woman
Slavko Juraga as the Silk King

Uncredited

David Coakley as Drennan

Dez McMahon as Baratheon Commander
Unknown as Ser Emmon Cuy
Unknown as Ser Robar Royce
Unknown as Eglantine
Unknown as Lannister bannerman 1
Unknown as Lannister bannerman 2
Unknown as Lannister bannerman 3
Unknown as Malakho
Unknown as Stonesnake
Unknown as Harker
Unknown as Borba

Cast notes

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17 of 25 cast members for the second season appear in this episode.

Starring cast members Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon), Conleth Hill (Varys),
Sibel Kekilli (Shae), Richard Madden (Robb Stark), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), and
Carice van Houten (Melisandre) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
John Bradley is credited ahead of Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Maisie Williams and Jerome Flynn when he was credited after
them when they last appeared together in "What Is Dead May Never Die."
John Bradley is credited ahead of Stephen Dillane when he was credited after him when they last appeared together in
"The Night Lands".
Toni Bobeta, Jonathan Cohen, Rob Cooper, Jamie Edgell, Dave Fisher, Dave Forman, James Grogan, Tim Halloran, Paul
Herbert, Michelle McKeown, Sian Milne, Camilla Naprous, Jimmy O'Dee, Marcus Shakesheff, C.C. Smiff, Mark Southworth
and Paul Howell were stunt performers in this episode.

Notes
In the novel "A Clash of Kings", the series of murders at Harrenhal perpetrated by Jaqen H'ghar are attributed to a ghost.
The episode features the murder of the Tickler by Jaqen at Arya Stark's request.
In the book, Arya self-encouragingly calls herself "the ghost in Harrenhal".

This episode marks the death of King Renly Baratheon.

The night this episode aired, actor Finn Jones (who plays Renly's lover, Ser Loras Tyrell) posted to his Twitter
account, "When the sun has set, no candle can replace it."[1] This is actually a famous quote that Loras uses later in
the book series.
Renly's death reduces the number of factions in the war to four: Joffrey Baratheon, Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, and
Stannis Baratheon. Of course, due to geography if not ideology, Stannis isn't actively fighting Robb, because they're
on opposite sides of the Lannisters' position in the middle of the continent.
This only includes the factions that are currently fighting each other in open warfare. House Tyrell, House Martell, and
House Arryn are still active players in the ongoing political machinations of Westeros, e.g. Margaery Tyrell in this
episode.

For the first time since she left Pentos, Daenerys is brought up to speed on the current political situation in Westeros,
including the death of Robert Baratheon, and the fact that four rival kings now vie for the throne (word of Renly's death
evidently not having reached across the Narrow Sea yet).
Daenerys says "Dracarys" to Drogon, the young dragon, to encourage him to breathe fire. Dracarys (pronounced "drah-
KAH-ris") is the High Valyrian word for dragonfire.
When Renly is meeting with Catelyn Stark, he says that the oath of fealty he wants Robb to swear will be the same one
that Eddard Stark swore to Robert Baratheon "eighteen years ago". In Season 1, the events of Robert's Rebellion were
consistently said to have occurred seventeen years ago. This reflects the passage of time by Season 2.
Bronn refers to what Joffrey did to the "birthday present" that Tyrion sent him (which occurred in the preceding episode). In
the culture of the Seven Kingdoms, people actually use the term "nameday", not "birthday", because babies are named on
the day they are born. "Nameday" has been consistently used on-screen throughout Season 1 and Season 2. This may
have just been a dialogue error by the actor.
Wisdom Hallyne, the head of the Alchemists' Guild, is played by Roy Dotrice, who narrated the audiobook versions of all
five novels currently in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (and thus in a sense is "reprising" his role as Hallyne). Roy Dotrice
was originally supposed to play the role of Grand Maester Pycelle, but fell ill shortly before production on the TV series
began and had to decline. His health later recovered, however, allowing him to join the cast as Hallyne.
This is the only episode in which House Tallhart is mentioned (by Dagmer).
This is the second and last time in the show (following "The Night Lands") that the ironborn are referred to as "iron
islanders". This phrase is never used in the books.
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It is the first time that Daenerys is referred to as "First of Her Name".

According to the novels and "Blood & Fire", there were two more Targaryen princesses called Daenerys: the first was
the secondborn child of King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne, who died in the age of seven as a result of a deadly
plague known as "Shivers"; the second was the daughter of King Aegon IV. Since both never ruled as queens,
Daenerys Stormborn is not the "Third of Her Name" but the first.

In the books

See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 2#The Ghost of Harrenhal

The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Clash of Kings:

Chapter 20, Tyrion V: Tyrion inspects the Alchemists' Guild's wildfire with the pyromancer, Hallyne.
Chapter 27, Daenerys II: Daenerys stays at Xaro's palace and learns that King Robert is dead and that the Seven
Kingdoms are at war.
Chapter 30, Arya VII: Jaqen H'ghar promises to kill three men of Arya's choosing in return for saving his life.
Chapter 33, Catelyn IV: Renly is killed by a mysterious shade while Catelyn and Brienne are inside his tent. Catelyn
and Brienne flee Renly's camp.
Chapter 34, Jon IV: Lord Commander Mormont's expedition arrives at the Fist of the First Men.
Chapter 35, Bran V: Bran continues to be troubled by his dreams.
Chapter 36, Tyrion VIII: Cersei and Tyrion learn of Renly's death.
Chapter 37, Theon III: Theon leads a force against Torrhen's Square.
Chapter 39, Catelyn V: Catelyn and Brienne are heading back to Robb.
Chapter 42, Davos II: Stannis and Davos plan to sail through the Blackwater attack King's Landing with ships.
Chapter 43, Jon V: Qhorin Halfhand arrives at the Fist of the First Men. Jon decides to accompany him on a scouting
mission into the mountains.

Memorable quotes
Catelyn Stark: "Our two houses have always been close, which is why I am begging you to reconsider this battle. Negotiate a
peace with your brother."
Renly Baratheon: "Negotiate with Stannis? You heard him out there. I'd have better luck debating the wind. Please bring my
terms to your son. I believe we are natural allies. I hope he feels the same. Together we could end this war in a fortnight."
[These turn out to be Renly's last words as the Shadow creature creeps into his tent and kills him in front of Catelyn and Brienne
of Tarth.]

Petyr Baelish: "Tell me, Ser Loras, what do you desire most in this world?"
Loras Tyrell: "Revenge."
Petyr: "I have always found that to be the purest of motivations, but you won't have a chance to put your sword through Stannis,
not today. You'll be cut to pieces before he sets foot on solid ground. If it is justice that you want, be smart about it."

Margaery Tyrell: "Calling yourself king doesn't make you one. And if Renly wasn't a king, I wasn't a queen."
Petyr: "Do you want to be a queen?"
Margaery: "No. I want to be the Queen."

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Tywin Lannister: "We've underestimated the Stark boy for too long. He has a good mind for warfare, his men worship him. And
as long as he keeps winning battles, they'll keep believing he is King in the North. You've been waiting for him to fail. He is not
going to fail, not without our help."

Tywin: "And what do they say of Robb Stark in the North?"

Arya Stark: "They call him the young wolf."
Tywin: "And?"
Arya: "They say he rides into battle on the back of a giant direwolf. They say he can turn into a wolf himself when he wants.
They say he can't be killed."
Tywin: "And do you believe them?"
Arya: "No, My Lord. Anyone can be killed."

Protestor: "Corruption! Yes, we are swollen, bloated, foul! Brother fornicates with sister in the bed of kings, and we're surprised
when the fruit of their incest is rotten?! Yes, a rotten king!"
Tyrion Lannister: "It's hard to argue with his assessment."

Image gallery

Main - Gallery: The Ghost of Harrenhal

There is a range of promotional images and screen captures featuring the episode "The Ghost of Harrenhal" in the gallery.

Media
Promotional Videos

Game of Thrones Season 2 Game Of Thrones Season 2

Recap 14 Inside The Episode 15
Episode 14 recap Inside the Episode 15

See also
The Ghost of Harrenhal on Wikipedia

The Ghost of Harrenhal on IMDb

The Ghost of Harrenhal on A Wiki of Ice and Fire

References

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1. ↑ Finn Jones' Twitter account , April 29th, 2012.

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