Game of Thrones Episode 2: The Kingsroad

Winterfell is shaken by another attempt on Bran Stark’s life, forcing Catelyn to guard him closely and making her suspicious of the Lannisters. Bran remains unconscious for most of the episode, while a mysterious attacker is repelled and later killed by Bran’s direwolf during the struggle.

Ned Stark prepares to leave for King’s Landing to serve as the new Hand of the King, and he departs with Sansa and Arya after a tense family farewell. Jon Snow also leaves Winterfell, heading north with Benjen Stark to join the Night’s Watch, and Tyrion Lannister decides to travel with them rather than go south with his family. Before Jon goes, he gives Arya a small sword named Needle, and Arya later has a brief confrontation with Prince Joffrey after Joffrey mocks her friend Mycah, the butcher’s boy.

The conflict at the roadside escalates when Joffrey demands that Mycah fight him; Arya intervenes and her direwolf attacks Joffrey, causing Joffrey to flee. Because of this incident, Sansa is forced into an impossible position between her family and Joffrey, and her direwolf Lady is later killed on the king’s order after Arya’s wolf has already been sent away.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys travels with Khal Drogo’s khalasar and begins adjusting to her new life among the Dothraki. Viserys remains with the group, frustrated and increasingly desperate as he tries to keep pressure on Drogo to honor the bargain for returning him to power. Daenerys starts to assert herself more confidently within the marriage, while Jorah Mormont explains his own past exile to Viserys during the journey.

By the end of the episode, the Stark family has been split apart across the realm, and Bran finally opens his eyes, coming out of his coma after the danger at Winterfell has passed.