Game of Thrones Episode 16: The Old Gods and the New

The episode centers on four major threads: **Theon seizing Winterfell**, **Jon Snow’s failed capture of a wildling**, **a riot in King’s Landing**, and **Daenerys discovering her dragons stolen in Qarth**.

At **Winterfell**, Theon Greyjoy arrives with Ironborn men and takes control of the castle while the Stark household is still vulnerable. He orders the castle’s people to submit, and Bran Stark publicly yields Winterfell to him in an effort to protect the inhabitants. Maester Luwin sends ravens in alarm, while Theon tries to assert authority by demanding loyalty from those remaining in the castle. Ser Rodrik Cassel is captured after fighting against the Ironborn, and after he spits in Theon’s face and refuses to show him respect, Theon executes him himself to avoid looking weak in front of his own men. Later, Osha seduces Theon, then secretly uses the opportunity to help Bran, Rickon, Hodor, and the direwolves escape from Winterfell.

At **the Wall and beyond**, Jon Snow goes with Qhorin Halfhand and other rangers to ambush a wildling scouting party. The wildlings are attacked and killed, but Jon hesitates when he realizes the woman they captured is Ygritte. She gets away briefly, Jon pursues her, and he eventually captures her again, only to become separated from his companions in the process. By nightfall, Jon and Ygritte are stranded together and forced to huddle for warmth in the cold.

At **King’s Landing**, Myrcella is sent away to Dorne as part of the planned alliance. As Joffrey travels through the city, the crowd turns hostile after he is struck in the face with filth, and his order to punish the crowd sparks a full riot. The mob attacks the royal party, and Sansa is nearly raped before Sandor Clegane intervenes and rescues her. Back at the Red Keep, Tyrion angrily slaps Joffrey and tries to take control, but the Kingsguard will not obey him.

At **Harrenhal**, Arya continues pretending to be a lowly servant while working in Tywin Lannister’s camp. Her cover is nearly blown when Petyr Baelish arrives, and she also tries to steal a document containing military information. When she is caught by Ser Amory Lorch, she escapes and asks Jaqen H’ghar for help; Jaqen then kills Lorch, allowing Arya to keep her identity hidden a little longer.

In **Qarth**, Daenerys visits Xaro Xhoan Daxos’s mansion hoping to secure ships, but she and her people return to find a massacre. Several of her followers and Xaro’s guards have been killed, Irri is among the dead, and Daenerys’s dragons are gone.

Back with **Robb Stark’s army**, Robb spends time with Talisa before hearing the news that Theon has taken Winterfell and that Ser Rodrik has been executed. Robb immediately declares that he will retake the castle, but Roose Bolton warns that doing so may cost him ground in the wider war.