The Prince of Winterfell

"The Prince of Winterfell"
Game of Thrones episode
Tyrion and Varys getting ready for the Battle of Blackwater Bay.
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 8
Directed by	Alan Taylor
Written by	David Benioff D. B. Weiss
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Jonathan Freeman
Editing by	Frances Parker
Original air date	May 20, 2012 (2012-05-20)
Running time	54 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin Natalia Tena as Osha Oona Chaplin as Talisa Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar Rose Leslie as Ygritte Simon Armstrong as Qhorin Halfhand Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy Joe Dempsie as Gendry Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth Ralph Ineson as Dagmer Cleftjaw Ian Gelder as Kevan Lannister John Stahl as Rickard Karstark Mark Stanley as Grenn Ben Crompton as Dolorous Edd Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie Esmé Bianco as Ros Andy Beckwith as Rorge Steven Cole as Kovarro Edward Dogliani as Rattleshirt Kristian Nairn as Hodor Gerard Jordan as Biter Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne Ian Whyte as Gregor Clegane Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth
Episode chronology
← Previous "A Man Without Honor" Next → "Blackwater"
Game of Thrones (season 2) List of Game of Thrones episodes

"The Prince of Winterfell" is the eighth 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 third time in this season, by Alan Taylor. It premiered on May 20, 2012.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) plan the defense of King's Landing, with the aid of several old texts. When Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) asks how they plan to hold off Stannis Baratheon's ships, Tyrion replies with "pig shit", referencing an earlier meeting with Pyromancer Hallyne and his pots of wildfire.

While dining with his sister Cersei (Lena Headey), Tyrion is accused of plotting to have King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) killed during the defense of King's Landing. Cersei tells Tyrion that she has kidnapped his prostitute lover and intends to hold her to ensure Joffrey's safety, but when Cersei orders her brought into the room Tyrion discovers that she has mistakenly kidnapped Ros (Esme Bianco) instead of Shae (Sibel Kekilli). After promising Ros that he will free her, Tyrion angrily swears to Cersei that she will pay for what she has done.

Later, Tyrion tries to get Joffrey to understand the danger they face, but Joffrey's inexperience and arrogance leave Tyrion fearful for the coming battle. Varys informs Tyrion that Daenerys Targaryen is alive and that she now has three dragons. Tyrion, skeptical about the dragons, says that they will play that "game" later, since Stannis is their main concern now.

Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) and King Stannis (Stephen Dillane) plan the siege of King's Landing, during which Stannis decries the disrespect his nobles show to Davos due to his low-born status, despite his excellent service. They recall memories of the siege of the Baratheon ancestral castle Storm's End, during which Stannis held the castle even in the face of starvation, until Davos heroically broke through the siege line with food supplies. Stannis comments on his bitterness over King Robert handing over Storm's End to Renly after the war and not him, and vows that he will aptly reward faithful service by making Davos his Hand once he takes the Iron Throne.