Game of Thrones Episode 6: A Golden Crown

Eddard Stark wakes in his sickbed in King’s Landing to find King Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Lannister at his side, each angry for different reasons, with Robert furious about the attack on Jaime and Cersei accusing Ned’s men of causing it. Robert leaves for a hunt and names Ned as the man in charge while he is gone, and Ned begins to act as Hand of the King again.

Ned later sits the Iron Throne and hears petitions from people in the realm, including a group of smallfolk who were brutally attacked on the road. He orders that Gregor Clegane be brought to justice, sends Beric Dondarrion to lead the men assigned to the task, and calls Tywin Lannister to account for the violence, demanding his loyalty to the crown. At the same time, Ned decides that Sansa and Arya are no longer safe in King’s Landing and tells them they will be sent back north.

In private, Littlefinger takes Ned to a brothel and shows him one of Robert’s bastard children, deepening Ned’s suspicions about the king’s family. Catelyn remains with Tyrion at the Eyrie, where his fate is decided by combat, and Tyrion chooses Bronn to fight for him as his champion. Bronn defeats Tyrion’s opponent, allowing Tyrion to walk free.

North of Winterfell, Bran practices riding with the help of his custom saddle and dreams again of the three-eyed crow. While Bran is out, he is attacked by a small group of wildlings who have crossed south of the Wall; Robb and Theon arrive, kill the attackers, and take the woman among them captive. Robb is irritated with Theon for the risk he took in trying to help Bran.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys remains with Khal Drogo’s khalasar and takes part in Dothraki ritual life, including eating a horse heart. Viserys grows increasingly resentful of the attention Daenerys receives and tries to steal the dragon eggs, but Jorah stops him. Later, in front of the Dothraki, Viserys confronts Daenerys with a sword and demands the crown he believes he is owed. Drogo responds by having molten gold poured over Viserys’s head, killing him in the “golden crown” promised to him.