Game of Thrones

With Ned dead, the War of the Five Kings begins. Tyrion becomes acting Hand in King's Landing and squares off with Cersei and Joffrey. Stannis Baratheon declares himself king with the backing of the priestess Melisandre, and his brother Renly is killed by a shadow she conjures. Robb wins battles and marries Talisa, breaking his promise to the Freys. Theon betrays the Starks and seizes Winterfell. Daenerys reaches Qarth, has her dragons stolen and gets them back at the House of the Undying. At the Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion uses wildfire on Stannis's fleet and is wounded, and Tywin arrives with the Tyrells to save the city. Winterfell is left in ruins, and beyond the Wall the White Walkers march with an army of the dead.

1. SetupThe Lannister song

   "The Rains of Castamere" keeps turning up: Tyrion whistles it in the first episode, the soldiers sing it before the battle in "Blackwater", and The National plays it over the credits. Remember that song.

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2. Behind the scenesMartin wrote the battle

   George R. R. Martin wrote "Blackwater". The season got a 15% bigger budget to stage that battle.

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3. Behind the scenesAsha became Yara

   In the books, Theon's sister is called Asha. The show renamed her Yara to avoid confusion with Osha, the wildling at Winterfell.

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