Season 2

Complete listed story — includes the ending

S2E1 · The North Remembers

In King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister becomes acting Hand of the King, much to the dismay of his sister, Cersei. At Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon proclaims allegiance to the priestess Melisandre 's God of Light, R'hllor, and claims the Iron Throne, having revealed Joffrey Baratheon 's bastardy. Joffrey orders all of former king Robert Baratheon 's bastards slaughtered. One of them, Gendry, along with the disguised Arya Stark, has escaped the city and is being taken to Castle Black. Having won three victories, Robb Stark, now proclaimed the King of the North, offers the Lannisters peace in exchange for the North's independence and Sansa Stark 's and Arya's safe return. He sends Theon Greyjoy to gain Balon Greyjoy 's support, and Catelyn Stark to seek an alliance with Renly Baratheon, who also claims the Crown. Beyond the Wall, the Night's Watch shelters with Craster and his daughter-wives. In Essos, as her people slowly die in the Red Waste, Daenerys Targaryen dispatches three riders to conduct reconnaissance.

S2E2 · The Night Lands

Returning to Pyke Island after nine years as the Starks' ward, Theon is reunited with his sister, Yara, and his father, Balon, who despises Theon's acquired Northern ways. Balon rejects Robb's proposed alliance and plans to reclaim Iron Island's independence by force. In King's Landing, Cersei rejects Robb's peace terms, while Tyrion exiles the untrustworthy Janos Slynt, head of the Gold Cloaks, to the Night's Watch and promotes Bronn in his place. En route to Castle Black, Arya, impersonating a boy, reveals her true identity to Gendry. At Craster's Keep, north of the Wall, Samwell Tarly is approached by Gilly, one of Craster's daughters. Gilly fears for her unborn child if it is a boy; Jon Snow resists helping, despite Sam's pleas. In the Red Waste, a horse returns to Daenerys's camp with its rider's severed head in a pouch, a message from her enemies. In Dragonstone, former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth, who now serves Stannis, recruits the pirate Salladhor Saan and his fleet to Stannis's side. Stannis attempts to sire a male heir with Melisandre, as his wife, Selyse, has failed to produce a son. Jon discovers that Craster sacrifices his sons to the White Walkers; Craster catches him spying and knocks Jon unconscious.

S2E3 · What is Dead May Never Die

Catelyn arrives at Renly's camp to negotiate an alliance. A female warrior called Brienne of Tarth wins the right to join Renly's Kingsguard by defeating Loras Tyrell in a practice duel. Renly has recently wed Margaery Tyrell, Loras's sister. Renly avoids consummating his and Margaery's marriage due to his homosexuality and sexual relationship with Loras. In the Iron Islands, Balon plans an attack on the North, led by Yara. Conflicted, Theon burns his letter to Robb warning of Balon's impending attack and affirms his allegiance to House Greyjoy in a water-based ceremony to the Drowned God. In King's Landing, Tyrion imprisons Maester Pycelle after determining he is Cersei's informant. Tyrion appoints his lover, Shae, as Sansa's handmaiden, both to protect Shae and watch Sansa. Beyond the Wall, Craster demands the Night's Watchmen leave. Jon discovers that Lord Commander Jeor Mormont has always known about and ignored Craster's human sacrifices. On the road to the Wall, the Night's Watch recruits are attacked by Lannister soldiers searching for Gendry. Yoren is killed, and Arya and Gendry are taken prisoner. To protect Gendry, Arya falsely states that a boy the soldiers have killed, Lommy, was Gendry.

S2E4 · Garden of Bones

Robb's army attacks a Lannister army at Oxcross and claims another victory, meeting a healer girl named Talisa Maegyr in the aftermath. In response, Joffrey publicly abuses Sansa as revenge for Robb's victories until Tyrion intervenes. The dwarf sends two prostitutes to the young King to calm his temper, but Joffrey makes one of them beat the other brutally, thus threatening Tyrion not to interfere with his business. Catelyn attempts to unite the Baratheon brothers against the Lannisters, but Stannis demands Renly's loyalty to him as king. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish visits Catelyn and relays Tyrion's offer to exchange Jaime for her daughters. Davos witnesses Melisandre giving birth to a shadow creature. Tyrion releases Pycelle and dismisses him from the Small Council. When Tyrion discovers Cersei's incestuous relationship with their cousin Lancel, he blackmails Lancel into spying on Cersei, threatening to reveal the relationship to Joffrey. Arya and Gendry are taken to Harrenhal castle as captives. Prisoners are systematically tortured to death until Tywin arrives and demands they be used as labor. Impressed by Arya's feistiness, Tywin makes her his personal cupbearer without deducing her true identity. After an exhausting journey through the desert, Daenerys arrives at the prosperous city of Qarth. Xaro Xhoan Daxos, a member of the Council of Thirteen, persuades fellow council members to allow Daenerys and her retinue to enter the city.

S2E5 · The Ghost of Harrenhal

At Harrenhal, Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man, assassin, and one of three caged prisoners Arya previously saved from a fire, pledges to kill any three people she chooses to repay his debt to her. Her first choice is "the Tickler", the man who mortally tortures the captives. Renly is killed by Melisandre's shadowy assassin. Brienne is accused of the murder, and Catelyn forces her to flee the camp. Excluding the Tyrells, Renly's forces join Stannis. Brienne swears lifelong fealty to Catelyn for having saved her life. Theon sails from Pyke, and against Yara's orders, intends to prove he is a true Ironborn by capturing Winterfell during Robb's absence. Lancel tells Tyrion about wildfire, a mass-produced explosive substance hidden in the city's dungeons and intended to destroy Stannis's fleet and army during the impending siege. Tyrion then takes control of the scheme. In the North, the Night's Watch arrives at an ancient fortress called the Fist of the First Men. Jeor Mormont hands command of Jon over to legendary ranger Qhorin Halfhand, who is leading a team to the Frostfang mountains to spy on the gathering wildling host. In Qarth, Xaro proposes marriage to Daenerys in exchange for providing her with his wealth to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Jorah Mormont convinces her to gain the Westerosi peoples' support instead.

S2E6 · The Old Gods and the New

Against Cersei's wishes, Tyrion sends her and Jaime's daughter, Myrcella Baratheon, to Dorne to secure a marriage alliance with House Martell. Theon captures Winterfell and executes Ser Rodrik Cassel. Osha, a captive wildling, along with Hodor, helps Bran and Rickon Stark escape. In the aftermath of another battle, Robb reunites with Talisa. Jon captures a wildling named Ygritte but is separated from Qhorin's group while pursuing her after she escapes. Joffrey's mistreatment of the starving common folk incites a riot at King's Landing, in which he is nearly killed, and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane saves Sansa from being raped. Littlefinger works to broker an alliance between Tywin and House Tyrell. At Harrenhal, Arya has Jaqen kill Amory Lorch when he discovers her spying on the Lannister battle plans. Robb receives news about Theon's treachery and sends men to retake Winterfell. At Qarth, Daenerys works to procure a ship to transport an army to Westeros while keeping Xaro at bay. One of Daenerys's maids, Irri, is killed, and her dragons are stolen.

S2E7 · A Man Without Honor

Theon and his men pursue Bran and Rickon. Tywin launches an investigation into Amory's assassination. Jon recaptures Ygritte, but she escapes again, leading him into a trap. Still shaken from the riot, Sansa is horrified that she has begun menstruating and is now old enough to marry and bear Joffrey's children. Cersei advises her to love no one but her children, not even Joffrey. In Robb's camp, Jaime's failed escape leaves a guard dead and some soldiers seeking retribution. In Qarth, the warlock Pyat Pree says he stole Daenerys's dragons; he offers her the opportunity to reunite with them, then slaughters the Council of Thirteen and establishes Xaro as king. In Winterfell, Theon presents the charred corpses of two farm boys to Maester Luwin, claiming they are Bran and Rickon.

S2E8 · The Prince of Winterfell

Robb learns that Catelyn secretly freed Jaime Lannister, who Brienne is escorting to King's Landing to exchange for Sansa and Arya. Robb places his mother under house arrest and sends men to recapture Jaime. Yara arrives at Winterfell and criticizes Theon's seizing it, as he will not receive reinforcements to hold it. He refuses to return to Pyke with her. When Tywin leaves Harrenhal to attack Robb, Arya coerces Jaqen into helping her, Gendry, and their friend, Hot Pie, to escape. In King's Landing, Cersei gets revenge on Tyrion for sending Myrcella to Dorne by abducting Ros, whom she mistakenly believes is his secret lover. Joffrey chastises Varys for not having more knowledge of Stark positions, and prepares to lead the attack against Stannis himself. En route to King's Landing, Stannis promises to make Davos his Hand of the King. Beyond the Wall, a wildling leader called "Rattleshirt" leads the captured Jon and Halfhand to his king, Mance Rayder. At the Fist of the First Men, the brothers of the Night's Watch find a hidden cache of dragonglass weapons. In Qarth, Jorah agrees to accompany Daenerys to the House of the Undying to retrieve her dragons. Bran and Rickon are revealed to be alive and hiding in the Winterfell crypts.

S2E9 · Blackwater

Stannis's fleet assaults King's Landing. Sansa plays along, trying to manipulate Joffrey into leading the attack himself (hoping to get him killed), but Joffrey proves too afraid to fight. Leading the defense, Tyrion destroys most of Stannis's fleet with wildfire, including Davos's ship; however, a significant force still manages to attack the castle. The Hound, overcome by his fear of fire, denounces Joffrey and deserts the battlefield. Joffrey retreats in fear as Tyrion rallies the Gold Cloaks into fighting with him. Stannis's forces enter the castle, but Tyrion leads his men behind them and mounts a rearguard attack. Cersei goes to the throne room with Tommen, intending to commit suicide rather than be captured. Tyrion is betrayed and wounded by one of the Kingsguard, Mandon Moore, but saved by his squire, Podrick. The Hound offers to take Sansa to Winterfell, but she is still scared of him and refuses. Tywin and Loras arrive with a combined Lannister–Tyrell army at the last minute to save the city, but Stannis escapes.

S2E10 · Valar Morghulis

Joffrey sets Sansa aside to marry Margaery Tyrell and ally with the Tyrell house. Tyrion recovers from his wounds and fears that Cersei tried to have him killed. Melisandre comforts a defeated Stannis by showing his future glory in the flames. Brienne kills Stark soldiers after they recognize Jaime. Against Catelyn's advice, Robb marries Talisa, breaking his promise to wed Walder Frey 's daughter. In Qarth, inside the House of the Undying, Daenerys enters a simulacrum of a destroyed Iron Throne room, then is reunited with what appears to be Khal Drogo and their infant son. Knowing it is an illusion, she leaves and successfully retrieves her dragons, who burn the House to the ground, killing Pyat. She seals Xaro and her traitorous servant Doreah inside his empty vault, claims his wealth, and purchases a ship to leave Qarth. In Winterfell, Theon's men betray him and hand him over to the besieging Northmen in exchange for passage for themselves back to the Iron Islands. Winterfell is torched. Fatally wounded, Maester Luwin convinces Osha to take Bran and Rickon to the Wall to seek protection from Jon. After Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry escape Harrenhal, Jaqen gives Arya a coin he says can be used to find him in Braavos. Before she does, he magically changes his face and departs. North of the Wall, Qhorin Halfhand forces Jon to kill him and pretend to join the wildlings so that he can spy on them. An army of White Walkers and dead men surrounds the Fist of the First Men; Sam hides, watching in horror as they pass.