Blackwater (Game of Thrones)

"**Blackwater**"
"Blackwater"
Game of Thrones episode
	Wildfire explosion during the Battle of Blackwater Bay. The visual effects in the episode received critical acclaim.
Episode no.	Season 2; Episode 9
Directed by	Neil Marshall
Written by	George R. R. Martin
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Sam McCurdy
Editing by	Oral Norrie Ottey
Original air date	May 27, 2012
Running time	55 minutes
Guest appearances
	Roy Dotrice as Pyromancer Hallyne; Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle; Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister; Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth; Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell; Sahara Knite as Armeca; Tony Way as Dontos Hollard; Wilko Johnson as Ilyn Payne; Stephen Swift as Lannister Guard; Callum Wharry as Tommen Baratheon; Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne; Gordan Mahon as Imry Florent; James Doran as Mandon Moore; Kieran Cunningham as a Baratheon officer; Michael Grennell as the captain of the archers;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Prince of Winterfell"	Next →; "Valar Morghulis"
	Game of Thrones season 2
	List of episodes

"Blackwater" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 19th overall. The episode was directed by Neil Marshall, his directorial debut for the series, and written by George R. R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels from which the series is adapted. It first aired on May 27, 2012.

The episode centers around the Battle of Blackwater Bay, in which the Lannister army, commanded by acting Hand of the King Tyrion Lannister, defends the city of King's Landing against a naval invasion by the Baratheon army, commanded by Stannis Baratheon, who seeks to take the Iron Throne for himself. Unlike all previous episodes, "Blackwater" does not feature the storylines of characters outside of King's Landing, making it the first episode of the series to take place entirely in one location. The episode achieved a viewership of 3.38 million during its initial airing in the United States.

"Blackwater" received acclaim from critics and viewers, with many hailing it as one of the series' best episodes, praising the titular battle and its scale and emotional depth, as well as the acting and visual effects. At the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, the episode won the awards for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Drama Series (One-Hour) and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series (One Hour). It was Peter Dinklage's choice to support his nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The episode was also the recipient of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.

^ Toor, Amar (December 2, 2012). "'Game of Thrones' creators go behind the scenes on 'The Battle of the Blackwater'". The Verge. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

[1] Toor, Amar (December 2, 2012). "'Game of Thrones' creators go behind the scenes on 'The Battle of the Blackwater'". The Verge. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

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