"Game of Thrones" Season 2, Episode 8, titled "The Prince of Winterfell," is centered around several key storylines.
In King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister continues to work to improve the city's defenses and to try to gain the support of the smallfolk, despite the disapproval of his father, Tywin Lannister. Sansa Stark is still a prisoner of the Lannisters, and is becoming increasingly distressed as she realizes the full extent of the Lannisters' cruelty.
In the North, Theon Greyjoy, who has betrayed Robb Stark and seized Winterfell, struggles to maintain control of the castle and the loyalty of his men. Bran Stark and Rickon Stark, who were thought to have been killed by Theon, are revealed to be alive and on the run.
At Harrenhal, Lord Tywin Lannister continues to extract information from the prisoners, and employs a young girl named Arya Stark as his cupbearer. Arya, who is disguised as a boy, uses her position to gather information and plot her escape.
In the Riverlands, Robb Stark receives news of Theon's betrayal and sets out to retake Winterfell, while Catelyn Stark travels to Riverrun to seek help from her father and brothers.
In the East, Daenerys Targaryen and her khalasar continue their journey across the Red Waste in search of allies, and she comes across a group of riders led by a woman named Xaro Xhoan Daxos, who offers her aid and a place to stay in the city of Qarth.
At the Wall, Jon Snow and the Night's Watch come across a wildling camp, where Jon learns that the wildlings are planning to march on the Wall. He also meets a woman named Ygritte, who is different from the other wildlings and takes a liking to him.
The episode ends with a confrontation between Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy, in which Theon is captured and taken prisoner.
In summary, the episode is a continuation of the political maneuvering, warfare and power struggles that is the backbone of the series. It also furthers the characters development of the main characters, Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, Theon Greyjoy, Bran Stark, and Daenerys Targaryen, as well as adding new characters like Lord Tywin Lannister, Arya Stark and Locke. The episode also continues to hint at the growing threat of the White Walkers and the Night King. It also has a climactic twist at the end with the confrontation between Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy, which has far-reaching consequences for the Starks, Greyjoys and the entire North.
