50 Fun Facts About Game of Thrones Season 3

Season 3 of Game of Thrones adapts roughly the first half of which novel?

Benioff had long said the book was too big for one season.

Which new country joined the season 3 filming locations for Daenerys's storyline?

Essaouira doubled as Astapor and Aït Benhaddou as Yunkai.

Gosford Castle in County Armagh stood in for which castle in season 3?

House Tully's seat hosted Hoster's funeral and Robb's war councils.

Which conlanger built the Valyrian languages first heard at length in season 3?

He had already built Dothraki for season 1 from the few words Martin invented.

Who wrote the season 3 episode 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair'?

He first titled it 'Autumn Storms', then 'Chains', before the bear scene was moved in.

Which showrunner made his directing debut on 'Walk of Punishment'?

Weiss co-directed, but Directors Guild rules allowed only one credit.

Which actor broke an ankle in July 2012, delaying the Iceland shoot?

A body double occasionally stood in for Jon Snow while he healed.

Which American indie band recorded 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair' for the season 3 credits?

The seven-inch came out on Record Store Day 2013.

Which Coldplay member cameoed as a musician at the Red Wedding?

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody also cameoed that season.

What was the name of the animal Brienne fought in the pit at Harrenhal?

'Little Bart' was trained by the same couple who raised the original Bart the Bear.

'The Rains of Castamere' won which science-fiction prize in 2014?

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form; Benioff and Weiss also got an Emmy writing nomination.

What does the premiere title 'Valar Dohaeris' mean in High Valyrian?

It mirrors the season 2 finale, 'Valar Morghulis'.

Which Irish actor joined season 3 as Mance Rayder?

The first scene he shot was his character's first: the tent meeting with Jon.

Who saves Daenerys from a warlock's scorpion-like creature in Astapor?

The former Kingsguard knight then swears himself to her service.

Which pirate rescues a stranded Davos after the Battle of the Blackwater?

He is quitting Stannis's service but agrees to ferry Davos to Dragonstone.

Which Love Actually child actor plays the seer Jojen Reed?

Ellie Kendrick plays his sister Meera.

Iwan Rheon's unnamed 'cleaning boy' is revealed in the finale to be whom?

Roose Bolton's bastard renames Theon 'Reek' at the Dreadfort.

Which court position does Tywin give Tyrion in season 3?

He discovers Baelish borrowed tens of millions from the Iron Bank of Braavos.

Who cuts off Jaime Lannister's sword hand?

Noah Taylor's character replaced the books' Vargo Hoat.

Tyrion's brothel joke about 'the Meereenese Knot' refers to what?

Martin wrestled with it from 2005 to 2011 while writing A Dance with Dragons.

Who kills Lord Commander Jeor Mormont at Craster's Keep?

It was James Cosmo's last appearance; Karl Tanner killed Craster moments earlier.

Varys tells Tyrion he was made a eunuch by a sorcerer in which city?

He then reveals he has the sorcerer in a crate, ready for revenge.

Which Astapori slaver trades the Unsullied for one of Daenerys's dragons?

He insulted her in Valyrian throughout, not knowing it was her first language.

How many Unsullied does Daenerys buy in Astapor?

She threw Missandei into the bargain, then turned the army on the slavers.

Which actor took over as Beric Dondarrion in season 3?

David Michael Scott had played him briefly in season 1's 'A Golden Crown'.

The title 'Kissed by Fire' refers to wildlings with what feature?

Ygritte is the prime example; the episode won an Emmy for non-prosthetic make-up.

Who begins teaching Davos to read in the Dragonstone dungeons?

Cogman's script also invented Selyse's jars of stillborn sons.

Which lord does Robb personally execute for murdering two Lannister boys?

The Karstark forces then desert, pushing Robb back toward the Freys.

Why was Qyburn expelled from the Citadel?

Roose Bolton sends him to treat Jaime's amputation at Harrenhal.

The Grjótagjá grotto in Iceland provided the establishing shot for which moment?

Most of the scene itself was shot in the studio; Dimmuborgir was Mance's camp.

Melisandre reveals to Gendry that his father was which king?

She buys him from the Brotherhood for his king's blood.

Brienne is forced to face the bear at Harrenhal armed with what?

Jaime jumps into the pit and talks Locke's men into letting her go.

Roughly how many slaves does Daenerys say she will free in Yunkai?

The envoy Razdal mo Eraz offers gold and ships; she refuses.

Who escorts Sansa down the aisle at her wedding to Tyrion?

Tyrion later threatens to geld the king when he calls for the bedding ceremony.

Stannis names which three 'usurpers' as he burns the leeches?

Melisandre had drawn the blood from Gendry.

What weapon does Sam use to destroy a White Walker in 'Second Sons'?

He had found it at the Fist of the First Men; the Walker came for Gilly's son.

Besides the 'Black Dinner', which 1692 Scottish atrocity inspired the Red Wedding?

In 1692 the Campbells killed 38 of their MacDonald hosts overnight.

Whose wedding is the setting for the Red Wedding?

Robb had broken his own betrothal to a Frey daughter.

Who directed 'The Rains of Castamere' and the season 3 finale?

He returned to direct season 5's finale and two season 8 episodes.

What name did Talisa want to give her unborn son?

Richard Madden said Talisa died so Robb's heir could never avenge him.

How many arrows does Ygritte put into Jon as he flees in the finale?

She deliberately only wounds him; he rides back to Castle Black.

What does the finale title 'Mhysa' mean?

It is Old Ghiscari, as Missandei explains to Daenerys outside Yunkai.

How many ravens does Maester Aemon send warning Westeros about the White Walkers?

Peter Vaughan returned as Aemon after missing all of season 2.

Who is revealed as the mastermind behind the Red Wedding in the finale?

Tyrion warns him the Northerners will never forget his role.

Who is appointed Warden of the North after the Red Wedding?

House Frey gets Riverrun as its reward.

What new name does Theon's tormentor give him in the finale?

It came with the reveal that the tormentor is Ramsay Snow.

At which abandoned castle do Sam's and Bran's parties cross paths?

Sam gives them dragonglass weapons and shows them the passage north.

Who fails to light Hoster Tully's funeral pyre with a flaming arrow?

His uncle the Blackfish shoves him aside and hits it first time.

Hot Pie stays behind at the inn in season 3 to work as what?

The Brotherhood leaves him as payment after he proves his skill.

Gilly's baby was played by an infant named after which character?

Ten-month-old Arya Hasson came from the Waterside in Derry.