S1┬ÀE6 ÔÇö A Golden Crown
The hour retold
Two thrones, two trials, and a crown that isnÔÇÖt gold at all. In KingÔÇÖs Landing, Ned sits the Iron Throne as Hand while Robert hunts, hears what the MountainÔÇÖs raiders did in the riverlands, and ÔÇö in full view of the court ÔÇö sends Beric Dondarrion to bring the kingÔÇÖs justice and summons Tywin Lannister to answer for his dog. It is exactly the sort of thing the office exists to do, and exactly the sort of thing one does not do to Tywin Lannister. In the Vale, meanwhile, Tyrion talks his way out of a sky cell by demanding trial by combat, and a sellsword named Bronn wins it by declining to be chivalrous: Ser Vardis, in his fine armor, goes through the Moon Door, and BronnÔÇÖs answer to the scandalized court ÔÇö he didnÔÇÖt fight with honor, no; the dead man did ÔÇö is the whole series in one exchange.
The title belongs to Essos. In Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys eats a raw stallionÔÇÖs heart in front of the crones and keeps it down; her son is proclaimed the Stallion Who Mounts the World while Viserys watches from the crowd and understands, finally, that the khalasar follows her. His response ÔÇö a drawn sword in the sacred city, a hand on his sisterÔÇÖs belly, a demand for the crown he was promised ÔÇö earns him DrogoÔÇÖs idea of a coronation: molten gold, poured over the head of a man everyone has stopped being afraid of. Dany watches without flinching and pronounces the verdict: he was no dragon, because fire cannot kill a dragon. It is the first time she says something like that. It will not be the last.
What happens
- Robert forces the badge back onto Ned and goes hunting.
- Sitting the throne, Ned sends Beric Dondarrion to bring the Mountain's head and summons Tywin to court.
- Tyrion demands trial by combat; the sellsword Bronn fights for him and Ser Vardis falls through the Moon Door.
- In Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys eats the stallion's heart; the crones name her son the Stallion Who Mounts the World.
- Viserys draws a sword in the sacred city ÔÇö Drogo crowns him in molten gold.
The people of the episode
Tyrion Lannister ÔÇö Confesses everything except the crime ÔÇö and walks free.
Daenerys Targaryen ÔÇö Watches her brother die and does not look away.
Eddard Stark ÔÇö Reads Baratheon history and finally does the sum: black of hair.
Catelyn Stark ÔÇö Watches her sister's justice fail her family.
Arya Stark ÔÇö "Syrio says every hurt is a lesson."
Khal Drogo ÔÇö "A crown for a king." Gold, molten, poured.The fallen ÔÇö spoilers
- Ser Vardis Egen ÔÇö The Eyrie's champion, sent through the Moon Door by Bronn's patience.
- Viserys Targaryen ÔÇö The beggar king got his golden crown at last.
- Stiv ÔÇö Wildling deserter, an arrow through the chest for holding a knife to Bran.