The Old Gods and the New

Harington appears as Jon Snow in the sixth episode of season two of Game of Thrones, The Old Gods and the New. Simon Armstrong plays Qhorin Halfhand, the leader of a band of Night’s Watch rangers on a mission in the Frostfang mountains north of the Wall of Westeros. Rose Leslie plays Ygritte, a red-headed young female wildling warrior in the army of Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Qhoren’s rangers encounter a group of wildling scouts in the Skirling Pass through the Frostfangs, killing all of them in combat except Ygritte. Qhoren leaves Jon alone with Ygritte with orders to execute her as the rest of the party continue up the mountain. Jon hesitates, allowing Ygritte to escape, and then pursues her and takes her prisoner. Separated from the rest of the party, they realize that they will have to spend the night together in the mountains before searching for the party when daylight returns.