Lord Snow

"Lord Snow" is the third episode of the first season of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. It first aired on May 1, 2011. It was written by series creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by series regular Brian Kirk, his directorial debut for the series. The plot follows Jon Snow's training at the Wall; Ned Stark's arrival at King's Landing, followed by Catelyn, looking for Bran's would-be murderer; Arya reveals her desire to learn sword fighting to Ned; Joffrey Baratheon is given a lesson in ruling the Kingdom by Cersei Lannister; and Robert longs for the glory of his past. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen learns she is pregnant. The episode was the first to feature Old Nan, played by Margaret John, who died before the series was broadcast; the episode is dedicated to her memory in the final credits. The title of the episode is the demeaning nickname given to Jon by Ser Alliser Thorne, the sadistic trainer of Night's Watch recruits, referring to his highborn origins. Critical reception was generally positive, with critics praising the series' further character development, the introduction of the Small Council, and the performances, with Maisie Williams singled out for her portrayal of Arya, while her sword lesson scenes also received positive notice. In the United States, the episode achieved a viewership of 2.4 million in its initial broadcast.