content: 
  ===Writing===
  The episode was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
  This episode was written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series' creators. It contains content from George R. R. Martin's novels ''A Feast for Crows'', chapters Samwell II, Samwell IV, and Cersei X and ''A Dance with Dragons'', chapters The King's Prize, Tyrion X, and Daenerys IV.
  Like other episodes in season 5, this episode differed considerably from Martin's novels in places. Aemon's death takes place at Castle Black rather than at sea, which Myles McNutt of ''A.V. Club'' notes, "establishes a shifting of the guard at Castle Black and marking Sam’s reemergence as a more significant character." In what Sara Stewart of the ''New York Post'' calls "the biggest departure yet from the books," Tyrion actually meets Daenerys at the end of the episode, which has yet to happen as of ''A Dance with Dragons''. The decision was largely approved by critics from ''The Atlantic'' and other publications. David Benioff cited the television adaptation's faster pace as part of the rationale behind this decision.