'Game Of Thrones' Recap: Jon Snow And Ygritte Scale The Wall, Joffrey Orders Tyrion's Death, Kills Ros

Game of Thrones 'The Climb' offered glimpses into the circumstances that the show's various characters are finding themselves in. Writers and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss managed to make a fragmented episode that never seemed erratic.

The first "climb" of the episode, and the most literal, was Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Ygritte's (Rose Leslie) fate-tempting scaling of the wall that separates the free people from those in the south. Along with Tormund (Kristofer Hivju), Orell (Mackenzie Crook) and the other wildlings, they attempt to escape from The Others (Whitewalkers) and head for a war against the Night's Watchmen. As fissures begin to form in the wall's surface, tens of wildlings fall to their death.

When Orell and Tormund opt to cut the rope that connects them to Jon and Ygritte, it seems as though they might fall to their deaths as well. However, in a moment of true heroics, Jon manages to jam his climbing pick into The Wall to save himself and Ygritte. Once they make it to the top, they share a romantic kiss and a breathtaking view. Ygritte also shares with Jon that she believes he's still loyal to the Night's Watch and declares that she is now his woman, and that he must therefore be loyal to her.

Also North of The Wall, Samwell (John Bradley) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) are on the run with their infant son. Sam, who doesn't know the significance of the dragonglass dagger he happened upon at the Fist of the First Men, shows it to Gilly. Then the happy couple sings to their newborn.

On the road from Winterfell, Meera Reed and Osha (Natalia Tena) are having an argument that's interrupted when Jojen Reed (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) suffers a seizure after having a vision. His vision was of Jon Snow, the half brother of Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson), on the "wrong side of the wall, surrounded by enemies."

Meanwhile, at the camp of the Lightning Lord, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) arrives to meet with the Brotherhood Without Banners. She openly questions Thoros' (Paul Kaye) ability to resurrect the dead, and appears stunned that he has used this power to bring Dondarrion (Richard Dormer) back to life six times. She then requests Gendry (Joe Dempsie), but Dondarrion turns her down, claiming that the Lord of Light needs the boy. Arya (Maisie Williams), who had been practicing her archery, interrupts them and admonishes both of them for using "God" as an excuse for their greedy actions. Melisandre responds by telling Arya that she herself has a darkness inside.

Robb Stark (Richard Madden), at his camp, is eager to get more men in his army. Sitting down with members of the House Frey, he hopes to convince them to support his cause. However, Robb's past resistance to marrying Lord Walder Frey's (David Bradley) daughter is still a major point of contention. Lord Walder Frey proposes that that Lord Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies), Catelyn Stark's (Michelle Fairley) brother, marry one of the Frey girls. Edmure agrees to it, and Robb feels the full weight of what he now owes Edmure.

At Kings Landing, Tywin (Charles Dance) and the Queen of Thorns (Diana Rigg) are working out the details of the upcoming arranged nuptials that will link their respective heirs together, cementing their power in the realm. Sansa (Sophie Turner) and the secretly-gay Loras (Finn Jones), who are unaware of the plans, continue to believe that they will marry one another. Meanwhile, siblings Cersei (Lena Headey) and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) talk about the Battle of Blackwater. Then Tyrion becomes aware that his nephew, Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), has ordered his murder. Although Tyrion ends the episode unscathed, his former bedmate, Ros (Esme Bianco), isn't so lucky. With Littlefinger's (Aiden Gillen) consent, Joffrey kills Ros.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays on HBO at 9/8c.