The Ghost of Harrenhal

"The Ghost of Harrenhal"
Game of Thrones episode
Shadow creature stabs Renly fatally before disappearing.
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 5
Directed by	David Petrarca
Written by	David Benioff D.B. Weiss
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Martin Kenzie
Editing by	Katie Weiland
Original air date	April 29, 2012 (2012-04-29)
Running time	55 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin Roy Dotrice as Pyromancer Hallyne Ron Donachie as Rodrik Cassel Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth Natalia Tena as Osha Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar Joe Dempsie as Gendry Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister Simon Armstrong as Qhorin Halfhand Mark Stanley as Grenn Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell Ben Crompton as Edd Tollet Roxanne McKee as Doreah Amrita Acharia as Irri Steven Cole as Kovarro Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy Kristian Nairn as Hodor Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie Ralph Ineson as Dagmer Cleftjaw Forbes KB as Black Lorren Fintan McKeown as Armory Lorch Edward Tudor Pole as a Protestor Laura Pradelska as Quaithe Patrick Fitzsymons as Reginald Lannister Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark Aimee Richardson as Myrcella Baratheon Anthony Morris as the Tickler
Episode chronology
← Previous "Garden of Bones" Next → "The Old Gods and the New"
Game of Thrones (season 2) List of Game of Thrones episodes

"The Ghost of Harrenhal" is the fifth episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. The episode is written by series co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and directed, for the second time in this season, by David Petrarca. It premiered on April 29, 2012.

“The Ghost of Harrenhal” is how Arya Stark describes herself while at Harrenhal in A Clash of Kings, the novel on which the season is based, although the phrase is not heard in the episode.

King Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) and Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) negotiate an alliance in his tent with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) standing guard, when the shadow creature birthed by Melisandre suddenly enters and fatally stabs Renly before disappearing. Two of Renly's guards enter the tent and, taking Brienne for the murderer, attack her. She slays them and is convinced by Catelyn to escape with her so that Brienne may at least avenge Renly someday. During their journey, Brienne swears allegiance to Catelyn, who promises not to interfere with Brienne's vengeance on Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), whom she believes played a role in Renly's murder.

Meanwhile, Renly's death causes confusion amongst his men. Ser Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) also holds Stannis responsible for Renly's death and wants revenge, but Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen) and Renly's widow Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) convince him that they must escape before Stannis' fleet arrives. As Stannis reaches the camp, his dead brother's bannermen swear fealty to him, but Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) warns him to stay away from Melisandre because his men whisper that she is controlling him. Stannis takes Davos' advice not to bring Melisandre with him during his forthcoming assault on King's Landing, and gives a reluctant Davos the command of the fleet in the coming siege of King's Landing.