The Climb

"The Climb" is the sixth episode of the third season of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 26th episode of the series. Written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss and directed by Alik Sakharov, it first aired on May 5, 2013.

The title both refers to the wildling party's ascent to the top of the Wall, and to a conversation between Lord Petyr Baelish and Lord Varys in which Petyr talks of the chaos created by societal collapse as the potential to climb.

Official synopsis

Four Houses consider make-or-break alliances. Jon and the Wildlings face a daunting climb.^[1]

Plot

In King's Landing

Lord Tywin Lannister meets Lady Olenna Tyrell to discuss having Ser Loras marry his daughter, Cersei. They trade barbs about Cersei's age and accusations of incest with Jaime, as well as Loras's well-known homosexuality, before Tywin threatens to make Loras a knight of the Kingsguard, an order which renounces their right to inheritance and marriage. Olenna relents, and consents to the marriage of Loras and Cersei.

Sansa tries to get acquainted with Loras. Closely watching the situation, Cersei and Tyrion compare their impending marriages before Tyrion accuses his sister of trying to have him killed during the Battle of the Blackwater. Tyrion deduces that it was in fact Joffrey who ordered Ser Mandon Moore to kill him, but Cersei tells him his life is not in danger from Joffrey, now that Tywin is the Hand. Tyrion then goes to Sansa's chamber, where he reveals to her and Shae that she will be wed to him, and not Loras. Elsewhere, Lord Varys finds Lord Baelish in the throne room. Baelish tells Varys that he is aware of Varys's arrangement with Ros, and that he has given her to Joffrey to kill for pleasure.

In the Riverlands

While Anguy teaches Stark to use a bow, Arya spots Melisandre and a small group of Stannis's men. Melisandre speaks to Thoros before he takes her inside the brotherhood's hideout. Melisandre is shocked when she learns of the six deaths of Beric Dondarrion, who asks her why she has come to them. She replies that the Brotherhood has someone the Lord of Light needs, and soon after has her men take Gendry into her custody. Arya is disgusted on discovering the brotherhood turned over Gendry partly because of Melisandre's money. Arya confronts Melisandre and accuses her of being a witch, to which she replies that Arya will take lives, and that they will meet again one day.

Robb Stark, the King in the North, and his advisors meet with Lothar and Black Walder Frey to discuss an alliance for Robb's planned attack on Casterly Rock. The Freys carry their lord's demands for an alliance, which includes a formal apology from Robb, the castle Harrenhal and all of its lands and incomes, and for Edmure to marry Roslin, one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters. Edmure is reluctant to marry a woman he has never met, but eventually agrees to go through with the arrangement.

At Harrenhal, Lord Roose Bolton has dinner with Jaime and Brienne. Roose tells Jaime he will send him to King's Landing on the condition that Jaime swear to tell his father that Roose had nothing to do with his maiming. Jaime assumes that Brienne will accompany him, but Lord Bolton intends to keep her with him, under arrest for abetting treason.

In the North

Tension rises at camp between Osha and Meera Reed before Bran defuses the situation. Jojen experiences a seizure while sleeping, and Meera explains they are caused by his visions. Jojen then tells Bran that in his vision he saw Jon Snow with the wildlings.

Elsewhere, a captor awakens Theon Greyjoy to continue torturing him. The boy threatens to remove Theon's little finger if he cannot guess his true identity and their current location. After several attempts, Theon guesses that he is a Karstark. His torturer acts for a moment as if the guess was right, but he begins flaying Theon's finger, telling him that he was lying. Theon eventually gives in and begs his torturer to remove his finger.

Beyond the Wall

Samwell Tarly and Gilly stop to camp during their journey to the Wall, after having fled Craster's Keep. Sam shows Gilly the dragonglass dagger he found at the Fist of the First Men and tells her about Castle Black.

At camp at the base of the Wall, the wildling party led by Tormund Giantsbane prepares to climb. Jon and Ygritte talk about their impending climb and their relationship. Ygritte reveals she is aware that Jon is still loyal to the Night's Watch, but tells him their loyalty is of greater significance, implying she joined Mance's cause from self-interest rather than trust in him. While climbing, Ygritte strikes the Wall and causes a massive crack, which inadvertently causes an avalanche that kills a few members of the wildling party and leaves herself and Jon hanging by their safety rope. Before Orell cuts the rope, Jon manages to secure himself to the Wall, saving Ygritte, and they later reach the top of the Wall together. Gazing out across the landscape of the Seven Kingdoms, they embrace and kiss.

References

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at The Climb (Game of Thrones). The list of authors can be seen in the page history of The Climb (Game of Thrones). As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

External links

• "The Climb" at HBO
• "The Climb" on the Wiki of Westeros
• "The Climb" on IMDb
• "The Climb" on Wikipedia