Discussing Game of Thrones: The Wolf and the Lion

* Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen “The Wolf and the Lion.”

Fetch the Breastplate Stretcher!

Ned goes snooping into the death of Ser Hugh of the Vale. King Robert bellows his intention to participate in the tourney but can't fit into his armor and focuses his bellowing on his harried squire, Lancel.

The Mountain Is a Sore Loser

Loras Tyrell is up against the Mountain in the joust. Littlefinger not so subtly hints that there's something going on between Loras and Renly Baratheon. When Loras defeats the Mountain after the latter's horse goes batty, the Mountain kills the horse and then goes after Loras. The Hound steps in at this point, and the Clegane brothers make it personal until Robert commands them to stop.

Detour

Tyrion realizes that Catelyn is hauling him to the Vale. One of the hill tribes attacks their party, and Bronn displays some serious badassery.

Housing Around

At Winterfell, Bran and Maester Luwin are having a lesson on the houses of Westeros. Bran is being rather difficult with Luwin, purposely matching the wrong words to the wrong house. When Bran recites "Family, Duty, Honor," the words of his mother's house, Tully, he does so with an edge. Luwin tries to explain Catelyn's absence, but Bran is clearly upset that she's seemingly left him.

Always Listen to Varys

Because he's usually right! Varys warns Ned that the King's life is in danger, and he also divulges the name of the poison that killed Jon Arryn: the tears of Lys.

Dungeons Make the Best Places to Plot

Chasing a cat, Arya ends up in the dungeons, where she's not alone. After concealing herself (Syrio would be proud!), she overhears Varys and Illyrio Mopatis plotting. I remember reading this part in book one, and it wasn't as obvious whom Varys is conversing with. When I saw this scene on the show, I was very proud of myself for guessing correctly that the mystery speaker was, in fact, Illyrio, lol.

Varys & Littlefinger, Round 1

These two. They're constantly trying to one-up each other in the intelligence gathering game. This is the first of a number of discussions in the throne room. They're interrupted by Renly, who announces that Robert is actually attending a Small Council meeting.

Ned Gets Some Bad News

Arya's adventure in the dungeons has landed her outside the castle, and the guards give her a hard time when she attempts to get back in. Fortunately for her, Ned finds her. Yoren arrives from the Wall and delivers the news about what Catelyn has done.

Not Quite the Welcome We Were Expecting

A group of knights from the Vale ride out to meet Catelyn, and despite her sister being Lady of the Eyrie, the knights are rather hostile toward Lady Stark.

More Troubling News from Abroad

Ned arrives for the Small Council meeting and requests to speak to the King alone, but Robert is already in a rage over word that Daenerys is pregnant. He wants mother and child plus Viserys dead. Ned gets angry upon learning that Jorah Mormont is the Crown's spy and information source, and he's appalled by Robert's proposed murders. Robert retorts that Ned is being ludicrously honorable; the rest of the council is for Robert's plan. This is the last straw for Ned, who hands over his, um, Hand of the King pin. He's packing up to leave when that damn Littlefinger drops a tantalizing morsel that's too attractive to resist: he'll take Ned to the last person Jon Arryn spoke to before his death.

And the Audience Collectively Goes, "EWWWWWWWW!"

Catelyn and her party have been granted entrance to the Eyrie, and everyone is horrified to witness young Robin Arryn in the middle of being fed. Um, he's not young enough to still be doing that. Tyrion is thrown into one of the super scary sky cells, which, all things considered, might still be preferable to having to look at Robin Arryn's milk mustache. *shudder*

In Case You Missed It

Renly Baratheon and Loras Tyrell are a couple! Their relationship on the show is much more obvious than it was in the books, where it was only implied. Like seriously, I didn't catch on until the Red Viper himself, Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne, made a comment about them in, I think it was the third book, A Storm of Swords.

Marriage Thoughts

Cersei and Robert have a very deep, insightful conversation. He accuses her of sounding just like her father, Lord Tywin, who arranged the marriage between the two. Both realize that it was one born of politics, but Cersei, in a rare candid moment, admits she tried to love Robert. He, in turn, admits he never could have loved anyone but Ned's sister, Lyanna Stark.

Jon Arryn's Unfinished Business Is Now Ned's Business

Ned meets another of Robert's bastard children, this one only a baby, and quizzes Littlefinger as to why Jon Arryn was seeking out the King's illegitimate offspring. Oh Ned. You're thisclose to putting it all together!

Aaaand the Sh*t Hits the Fan

Ned steps out into the street to be met by an angry Jaime and a number of armed men. The Kingslayer demands Tyrion's release and ends up stabbing poor Jory right through the eye. Jaime then faces off one-on-one against Ned. Their sparring is cut short when one of Jaime's men puts a spear in Ned's leg, which royally pisses off Jaime and Jaime's ego—the Kingslayer does NOT need any help in a sword fight!