The Lion and the Rose

"The Lion and the Rose"
Game of Thrones episode
The color of Joffrey Baratheon's face after his death led to his wedding being referred to as the "Purple Wedding".
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 2
Directed by	Alex Graves
Written by	George R. R. Martin
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Anette Haellmigk
Editing by	Katie Weiland
Original air date	April 13, 2014 (2014-04-13)
Running time	52 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle Noah Taylor as Locke Tara Fitzgerald as Selyse Baratheon Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Mace Tyrell Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell Thomas Brodie Sangster as Jojen Reed Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed Kristian Nairn as Hodor Dean-Charles Chapman as Tommen Baratheon Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne Ian Beattie as Meryn Trant Tony Way as Dontos Hollard Kerry Ingram as Shireen Baratheon Charlotte Hope as Myranda Paul Bentley as the High Septon Elizabeth Webster as Walda Bolton Pixie Le Knot as Kayla Jón Þór Birgisson as a Musician Orri Páll Dýrason as a Musician Georg Hólm as a Musician
Episode chronology
← Previous "Two Swords" Next → "Breaker of Chains"
Game of Thrones (season 4) List of Game of Thrones episodes

"The Lion and the Rose" is the second episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 32nd overall. The episode was 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 Alex Graves. It aired on April 13, 2014.

The episode focuses principally on the long-awaited royal wedding between Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) and Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer). Other storylines include House Bolton's quest to retake the North, and Bran's continued journey north of The Wall.

The title of the episode refers to the sigils of the wedding couple's respective houses - a lion for Joffrey Baratheon, who is in truth a Lannister, and a rose for Margaery Tyrell.

Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon) sadistically hunts a young girl in the woods, with the assistance of his servant, Reek (formerly Theon Greyjoy) (Alfie Allen), and his bedwarmer Myranda (Charlotte Hope). When Ramsay's father, Roose (Michael McElhatton), arrives at the Dreadfort with his new wife, Walda (granddaughter of Walder Frey), he asks to see Reek and chastises Ramsay for having castrated and tortured him. Roose intended to trade Reek to the Ironborn in exchange for Moat Cailin, a fortification that is preventing the Bolton army from returning to the north, which forced Roose and his party to have to be smuggled back to their own keep. Ramsay, in an effort to prove how well he has broken him, has Reek shave his face. While doing so, Ramsay coaxes Reek into admitting to Roose that both Bran and Rickon Stark are alive, as he could not find them, and burned two farm boys in their place while holding Winterfell. Ramsay also spitefully tells Reek that Roose betrayed and murdered Robb Stark who had once been like a brother to Theon. Despite this, a visibly emotional Reek completes his shave without harming Ramsay, thus proving his trustworthiness. Roose dispatches Locke (Noah Taylor) to find and kill Bran and Rickon, because while they are alive they pose a threat to his new position as Warden of the North. Ramsay suggests that they also find and eliminate Jon Snow, who has Stark blood in him and will also likely oppose the Boltons. Roose also orders Ramsay, along with Reek, to capture Moat Cailin, implying that he will reward Ramsay by legitimizing him as a true Bolton.