Blackwater (Game of Thrones)

"Blackwater"
Game of Thrones episode
Wildfire explosion during the Battle of Blackwater Bay
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 9
Directed by	Neil Marshall
Written by	George R. R. Martin
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Sam McCurdy
Editing by	Oral Norrie Ottey
Original air date	May 27, 2012 (2012-05-27)
Running time	55 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Roy Dotrice as Pyromancer Hallyne Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell Sahara Knite as Armeca Tony Way as Dontos Hollard Wilko Johnson as Ilyn Payne Stephen Swift as Lannister Guard Callum Wharry as Tommen Baratheon Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne Gordan Mahon as Imry Florent James Doran as Mandon Moore
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Prince of Winterfell" Next → "Valar Morghulis"
Game of Thrones (season 2) List of Game of Thrones episodes

"Blackwater" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. The episode is written by George R. R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels of which the series is an adaptation, and directed by Neil Marshall, his directorial debut for the series.

The entire episode is dedicated to the climactic Battle of the Blackwater, in which the Lannister army, commanded by acting Hand of the King Tyrion Lannister, defends the city of King's Landing as King Stannis Baratheon's fleet stages an attack at Blackwater Bay. Unlike all previous episodes, "Blackwater" does not follow the parallel storylines of the characters outside of King's Landing.

Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) leads Lord Stannis Baratheon's (Stephen Dillane) fleet into Blackwater Bay. Before their arrival, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Shae (Sibel Kekilli) discuss the possibility of the Lannister defeat. Queen Regent Cersei (Lena Headey) is given a powerful poison by Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) to be used should the city fall, since she believes a victorious Stannis will eliminate the Lannister nobility. Outside the Red Keep, Bronn (Jerome Flynn) drinks and sings with his men, but the mood is soured by the arrival of Sandor "the Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann). Tensions rise between Bronn and the Hound, but before they can fight, the bells ring, indicating Stannis' fleet has been spotted. Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) brings Tyrion a map of the tunnels beneath King's Landing, as requested. Varys is unnerved by Stannis' associations with the dark arts, having heard he has begun a relationship with a Red Priestess (Melisandre). King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) jubilantly leads the defending forces from the Red Keep, and orders his betrothed, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), to kiss his sword, vowing that he will use it to slay her brother Robb one day. The noble ladies and children are interned at Maegor's Holdfast and kept under watch by Ser Ilyn Payne (Wilko Johnson), the royal executioner, who Cersei claims is present for their protection. Becoming drunk, Cersei has several pointed conversations with Sansa, mocking her innocence and warning her to expect to be raped should the city fall.