Game of Thrones Episode 23: Walk of Punishment

Tywin Lannister formally makes Tyrion the new **Master of Coin**, and Tyrion immediately learns the crown is buried under massive debt from his predecessor. He also begins pushing for practical financial reforms, only to find that the numbers are far worse than expected.

In Dragonstone, **Stannis** pleads with **Melisandre** not to leave, but she departs anyway after speaking about the need for a king’s heir. Across the Narrow Sea, **Daenerys** travels to **Astapor** with **Jorah Mormont** and **Barristan Selmy** and inspects the slave-soldiers known as the **Unsullied**; after bargaining with their master, she agrees to trade a dragon for the army, shocking both of her advisors.

Beyond the Wall, **Mance Rayder** gathers the wildlings and orders a party led by **Tormund Giantsbane** to scale the Wall, with **Jon Snow** taken along for the mission. Meanwhile, the remaining Night’s Watch men retreat to **Craster’s Keep**, where Samwell Tarly sees **Gilly** give birth to a baby boy.

At **Riverrun**, **Robb Stark** and **Catelyn Stark** arrive for **Hoster Tully’s** funeral and reconnect with **Brynden “the Blackfish” Tully**. Tension rises over the war, as the family discusses the damage caused by **Edmure Tully’s** earlier battle decisions.

On the road, **Arya Stark** and **Gendry** part ways with **Hot Pie**, who decides to stay at the inn after proving useful in the kitchen. Arya also briefly confronts the captive **Hound** before he is taken away in a cart.

**Jaime Lannister** and **Brienne of Tarth** remain prisoners of the **Brave Companions** and are transported tied back-to-back. Jaime negotiates with their captor, **Locke**, trying to buy his freedom with the promise of rewards from his family, and then he saves Brienne from being assaulted by one of the men. His attempt to save them fails in the worst possible way when Locke punishes him by cutting off **Jaime’s right hand**, ending the episode in shock.