In "A Golden Crown," the sixth episode of the first season of Game of Thrones, several key events take place that further the overall plot of the series.
The episode begins with Viserys Targaryen, the exiled prince of House Targaryen, growing increasingly impatient with Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki tribe, for not fulfilling his end of their bargain to provide Viserys with an army to retake the Iron Throne. Viserys becomes more aggressive in his demands and threatens Drogo's wife, Daenerys, whom Viserys sees as his property. Drogo responds by pouring a pot of molten gold over Viserys' head, killing him, to the horror of Daenerys.
In King's Landing, Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, continues to investigate the death of King Robert Baratheon's previous Hand, Jon Arryn. He discovers that Arryn had been looking into the parentage of King Robert's children and suspects that they are not actually his own, but rather the children of Cersei Lannister, the queen, and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister. Eddard confronts Cersei with this information, but she denies it and convinces Eddard to keep the information to himself.
Meanwhile, Bran Stark, Eddard's son, has a mysterious dream about a three-eyed crow. He also discovers that Jaime Lannister has returned to Winterfell and is questioning Bran's mother, Catelyn, about Bran's fall. Catelyn becomes suspicious of Jaime and begins to suspect him of trying to kill Bran.
In the North, Jon Snow, Eddard's illegitimate son, continues to struggle with his place in the Night's Watch, a group of men who protect the Wall from the wildlings and the Others. He and his comrades discover a group of wildlings, including a woman named Ygritte, who are attempting to pass through the Wall. Jon takes Ygritte prisoner, but she manages to escape and leads Jon into a trap set by the wildlings.
In the Riverlands, Robb Stark, Eddard's eldest son, is leading his army against House Lannister in response to their capture of his father. Robb wins several battles and begins to gain the support of other houses.
In summary, "A Golden Crown" establishes the power struggles and secrets that drive much of the series. It also sets up several key conflicts and alliances that will play out in later episodes. The episode also showcases the brutal nature of the world of Game of Thrones, with Viserys' death serving as a reminder of the high stakes and ruthless tactics used by those vying for power.
