Game of Thrones Episode 29: The Rains of Castamere

Robb Stark arrives at the Twins with his mother, Catelyn, and the rest of his forces for the wedding of Edmure Tully to Roslin Frey, hoping to repair the broken alliance with House Frey. The ceremony and feast begin cordially enough, but the mood turns ominous once the bridal couple is sent away and the hall is sealed shut.

At the Twins, Robb tries to smooth over his earlier broken marriage pact with Walder Frey, while Catelyn remains uneasy. During the feast, Talisa tells Robb she wants to name their unborn son Eddard, showing that she is pregnant. Soon after, the song “The Rains of Castamere” begins playing, Catelyn realizes the guests have been betrayed, and the Freys and their allies launch a brutal ambush inside the hall.

The massacre is swift and devastating. Talisa is stabbed to death, Robb’s bannermen are cut down, and Catelyn desperately tries to bargain for her life and her son’s safety by threatening a hostage. Her attempt fails, Robb is killed, and Catelyn is then murdered as well.

Elsewhere, Bran’s group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned mill during a storm, where Hodor’s fear of thunder nearly exposes them. Bran unexpectedly wargs into Hodor to calm him, and later into Summer to help fend off danger when Jon Snow’s wildling party arrives nearby and discovers the old horse breeder they have captured. Jon is ordered to prove his loyalty by killing the man, but when he hesitates, Ygritte kills him instead. A fight breaks out, Bran helps Jon’s side by using Summer, and Jon escapes, leaving Ygritte behind as the wildlings retreat.

Afterward, Bran decides that Osha and Rickon should leave and head toward Last Hearth, while he continues on with Hodor and the others.

Jon’s storyline in this episode is centered on whether he will commit fully to the wildlings. Orell pressures him to prove himself, Tormund notices Jon’s reluctance, and the situation escalates into violence when Jon cannot carry out the killing.

Daenerys, meanwhile, moves against Yunkai. Her forces put the city under pressure, and Daario Naharis proposes a covert plan to slip into the city and open the gates. The slaves in Yunkai ultimately refuse to keep fighting for their masters, and Daenerys gains control of the city.

Sam and Gilly also appear briefly, discussing leaving for the Night Fort.