| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sean Bean | ... | Eddard 'Ned' Stark | |
| Mark Addy | ... | Robert Baratheon | |
| Nikolaj Coster-Waldau | ... | Jaime Lannister | |
| Lena Headey | ... | Cersei Lannister | |
| Emilia Clarke | ... | Daenerys Targaryen | |
| Iain Glen | ... | Jorah Mormont | |
| Aidan Gillen | ... | Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish | |
| Kit Harington | ... | Jon Snow | |
| Alfie Allen | ... | Theon Greyjoy | |
| Jack Gleeson | ... | Joffrey Baratheon | |
| Rory McCann | ... | Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane | |
| Donald Sumpter | ... | Maester Luwin | |
| Conleth Hill | ... | Lord Varys | |
| James Cosmo | ... | Jeor Mormont | |
| Owen Teale | ... | Alliser Thorne | |
Ned confronts Cersei about her children but she dismisses his allegations. The head of the Lannister clan tells his son Jaime to be a leader and sends him to rescue Tyrion. Ros, the prostitute from Winterfell begins working for Littlefinger in King's Landing. At the wall, a riderless horse belonging to Jon Snow's uncle Benjen returns to the wall. Jon takes his vows as a Night's Watchman but is disappointed to not having been named a Ranger but Sam sees it differently. King Robert is injured while out boar hunting with his brother. He knows he will not survive and names Ned Lord Regent until Joffrey comes of age. Knowing that Joffrey is not Robert's son, he feels Robert's brother should succeed him but Littlefinger counsel's otherwise. A wine vendor tries to poison Daenerys and Drogo promises to put their son on the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Written by garykmcd
Ned is going to pay a price for the King's odd lack of foresight. He has been badly wounded by a wild boar he was hunting. He knows he has little time left. Two things come in to play in this episode. First of all, it is the king just signing a piece of paper giving Ned dominion over his kingdom until his son is of age. The other is a man, trying to poison the queen of the horse people. The first sets up Ned as a traitor, and the queen responds with a vengeance. The second incites Drogo to cross the water and gain control of the Seven Kingdoms. Before this, he was happy to maintain his own kingdom and stay put on one side of the water. Now he is a force to be reckoned with. More complications. Ned's daughters' lives become more complicated. The one who would be queen is now seen as a traitor's daughter. The little one gets her first taste of blood. The last we see, her "dancing instructor" (teacher of swordsmanship) stands with a wooden stump to face a knight with a sword. She rushes away at his advising.. Things are now split wide open, with Ned no longer useful to the monarchy.