The Night Lands
The episode was directed by Alan Taylor and written by series creators and executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
The episode's plot continues storylines from the season premiere: the Small Council receives peace terms proposed by Robb Stark, Yoren's caravan traveling to the Wall is interrupted by City Watch guards looking for Gendry, Daenerys Targaryen waits in the Red Waste for her three riders to return, Theon Greyjoy returns to his homeland of the Iron Islands, and the Night's Watch continues to camp at Craster's Keep.
"The Night Lands" received positive reviews from critics and viewers, who noted many pivotal character moments as highlights in the episode.
The Small Council ignores Robb Stark's peace terms, as well as the request by the Night's Watch for more men and their report of encounters with the undead.
Rakharo's horse returns to Daenerys Targaryen's camp carrying his severed head, leaving Irri devastated and explaining that his soul will never rest with the ancestors since they did not burn his body.
Ser Jorah Mormont explains it is a message from another khal refusing to accept a woman's rule over a khalasar, and Daenerys vows revenge.
The episode was written by series creators and executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, adapted from original material from George R. R. Martin's A Clash of Kings.
[citation needed] One of the main deviations from the books was the removal of the character of the new commander of the City Watch, Ser Jacelyn Bywater, his role merged with the already introduced Bronn.
The scenes depicting Craster delivering a newborn son to the White Walkers and the sexual relationship between Stannis and Melisandre were written into the show by the producers.
[3] After seeing Whelan and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) acting together, the show creators assured that they made "an insanely good pair of siblings".
For this season they were, Andy Beckwith as Rorge, Gerard Jordan as Biter, and the German actor Tom Wlaschiha as the mysterious Jaqen H'ghar of the free city of Lorath.
Msamati's physical appearance, a Black, British actor of Tanzanian descent, contrasts with Sallahdor's portrayal in the books, where he is described with the typical fair-haired and fair-skinned look of the free city of Lys.
The website's consensus reads: "Moodier than the premiere and full of dark intrigue, 'The Night Lands' introduces viewers to exotic new locations in Westeros and delivers some pivotal character moments.
[18] Less positively, WhatCulture's Patrick Koch placed "The Night Lands" last in his ranking of the first four seasons of Game of Thrones, calling the Greyjoy plotline on Pyke "supremely non-interesting".
