Dark Wings, Dark Words

"**Dark Wings, Dark Words**"
"Dark Wings, Dark Words"
Game of Thrones episode
Episode no.	Season 3; Episode 2
Directed by	Daniel Minahan
Written by	Vanessa Taylor;
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Jonathan Freeman
Editing by	Frances Parker
Original air date	April 7, 2013
Running time	57 minutes
Guest appearances
	Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell; Ciarán Hinds as Mance Rayder; Mackenzie Crook as Orell; Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr; Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth; Noah Taylor as Locke; Natalia Tena as Osha; Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton; Iwan Rheon as Boy; Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane; Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell; Thomas Brodie Sangster as Jojen Reed; Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed; Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie; John Stahl as Rickard Karstark; Philip McGinley as Anguy; Mark Stanley as Grenn; Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett; Luke Barnes as Rast; Kristian Nairn as Hodor; Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark; Michael Shelford as Torturer; Joe Purcell as Traveller; Joe Cassidy as a King's Landing tailor; Will Rastall as Tyrell Server;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Valar Dohaeris"	Next →; "Walk of Punishment"
	Game of Thrones season 3
	List of episodes

"Dark Wings, Dark Words" is the second episode of the third season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. The 22nd episode of the series overall, it was directed by Daniel Minahan and written by Vanessa Taylor. It first aired on HBO on April 7, 2013.

In the episode, Robb Stark receives word that Winterfell has been razed by the Ironborn, and learns that Bran and Rickon have disappeared. Robb's army takes a detour to Riverrun to attend the funeral of Hoster Tully. Theon Greyjoy is taken captive and tortured at Winterfell. Brienne of Tarth continues to escort an imprisoned Jaime Lannister to King's Landing. In the North, Jon Snow struggles to gain the trust of Mance Rayder, as the Night's Watch march back to the Wall. The title of the episode refers to an in-universe proverb about messenger ravens, referring to the fact that urgently delivered messages are often bad news.

The episode marks the first appearance of Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), Jojen Reed (Thomas Brodie Sangster), and Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick). It received a mostly positive critical response, with critics singling out the introductions of new characters.