HBO's Game of Thrones: Season 2

Wow...Brienne looks great.

Always game for some perky Carice nudity! As long as she's writhing in the flame of her god.

Carice is a favorite of mine, and always looks great without her clothes. Shes always willing to take them off, but I dont remember Mel ever disrobing in the books.

 

Really liking the new pics.

I've been following the books since the late 90s, and I can honestly say that I've never seen any wide-spread admiration for Joffrey anywhere, internet forum or otherwise.  In fact, I would go so far as to say he's the only universally-hated character.  Of course, that isn't to say he isn't a character people love to hate--that I would agree with.

 

Any (recent) admiration would, I agree, have to be credited solely to the wonderful portrayal of the character by Gleeson.

 

On the topic of the show proper, I can't wait for the s.2 premiere: it'll be fun to see how non-readers' opinions of characters change, and how they react to the new characters.

 

If I recall, last season everyone agreed to err heavily on the side of caution with regard to spoilers, and to qualify spoilers as either TV spoilers or book spoilers (further qualified to the specific part of a specific book).  Hopefully that trend will continue this season: nobody wants to have one of the greatest book series (and what is shaping up to be one of the better TV shows) spoiled.

 

Also, Jaime FTW.

On the subject of spoilers, didn't we give a few days after each new episode last time? Or am I misremembering that? I'm fine with waiting a few days to discuss the finer points of an episode if folks want some leeway time to catch up. This is HBO, after all, and not everyone who watches regularly watches the first airing of a show.

 

That said, glad this is back. Between this and Mad Men, it's going to be a good spring.

I think just spoilerizing book spoilers of future developments is the norm, but feel free to discuss the current episode and previous episodes after they have aired on HBO.

Yes, please spoilerize book stuff that hasn't happened on screen yet. I'm still catching up on the books and I'm sure I'm not alone.

BTW, great episode, glad GoT is back!

 

Warning: Book II Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

The only thing I thought was missing from the Dragonstone storyline was

Warning: upcoming characters/book II Spoiler! (Click to show)

Otherwise, stellar premiere all around, though I wish it had been 2-hours.

Once something's aired I think it's fair game. I mean - if it's aired and you haven't watched it yet, but go online to read about it anyway, you only have yourself to blame, IMO.

 

Obviously, Book spoilers need to still be designated as such, as well as stuff about upcoming episodes. But, c'mon, people should be responsible enough to not read about already aired material. Show some self-restraint, I say.

Dinklage owning Cersei over her fuck ups is just precious TV. "You LOST her???"

I don't understand what this show is about. It looks like a horror set int the crusades era. What's the big deal? Does anyone have a good synopsis?

Hmm.    I don't know if this is real, or if you're just trying to see if Josh's eyeballs will pop out of their sockets due to the expected rise in blood pressure.

 

Game of Thrones is a series of critically acclaimed Fantasy Fiction, with a very significant following.. the books have sold in the millions and are considered by many on the literary front as some of the best fantasy fiction books in a very long time.   The breadth and depth of their writing offers tons of well developed characters and places.

 

It's one of those things; just as there are SciFi buffs who will praise say, Dune series, there are fantasy fans who are deeply impressed with GoT.   It's not a horror tome at all; it's mostly about political intrigue, magic (or perception thereof) faith and religion, as well as the will to empire.   This does not happen on what we perceive of as earth, and is set just in a fantasy world.  So, there is that as well.

Some housekeeping ...

On spoilers, it's always been convention that once it's aired, it's fair game. No discussion of previews. Only what airs in the episode. There's no easy way to give a few days' grace period to watch an ep (and not fair to everyone who is anxiously awaiting the initial airing). The easiest bright line rule is you can post after it airs. I also agree with spoilerizing anything from the books. Last season, I was in the group that hadn't read the books and it was frustrating reading through all the comparison posts. I've now read all five books, but I can still sympathize with those who haven't. It's not much trouble to spoilerize with a quick reference that it's a book spoiler and it keeps everyone happy.

To McPaul, Matt's simple description is accurate. If it looks like something you'd enjoy, watch the first season first. Watch at least the first two eps before you decide whether to stick with it. The story is an intricate weave of deception, honor, intrigue and betrayal. You can't pick it up in season 2 without missing some major underpinnings that serve as the basis for later hate, revenge and major plot lines. The dvds are out if you don't have access to HBO Go or On Demand. The author has written five books of epic length and there are at least two more to come before the series ends. No reason to jump in at season/book 2.

Re the production, DirecTV (and I'm guessing the other providers) has a number of 2-3 minute previews available on demand that go into the various set locations, like Croatia, Iceland and Ireland. It's pretty interesting stuff and goes to show how much HBO is investing in this. The shots in Iceland (used for scenes beyond the Wall) are incredible where they have to move the cameras, set pieces and equipment onto the glacier every morning and bring them back down every day just so they can have frozen mountainscapes in the background. Great stuff.

As for the ep, so glad to have this back. I'm rereading book 2 to refresh and could not be happier with the on screen portrayal. The screenplay does a great weave of the various story lines as GRRM's shifting perspective writing style would not work so well on screen. Loved how much Grey Wind has grown and the signs of intelligence the direwolves show. Also loved Bran's dream of seeing himself as Summer when he looked into the pond.

ahh. well it's obviously not enough to go on, but I saw a few minutes out of a show last year. season one maybe? and these guys were being chased by these wolves who kept appearing, and it was middle of winter and that's how I got my opinon of it.

I've never heard of Dune either, so perhaps it's just not my thing. is there something I can watch that wont give away all the spoilers but will give me enough to go on?

thanks.

I liked the sequence with Jamie as a captive and the direwolf teasing that he was going to bite his face off.

 

Joffrey telling his mother than slapping him was a capital offense was grim, because he's crazy enough to do it. Would hate to lose Cersei - she's one of the highlights in a show full of them. Seems to me Joffrey also has more than an inkling about his true parentage, which he'll never admit because it would defeat all his claims to the throne. 

 

Tyrion is telling his lady to stay hidden? That can't end well.

 

Perhaps the most memorable segment of the episode was the scene in the north ("the real north") at the home of Craster with the many wives. Craster is a wildling? I was confused by that.

 

Also, who was the woman with Stannis? Melisandre? She seemed to have some sort of power, or at least be immune from whatever poison was given to her. She certainly had power over the men on the beach.

 

With all these people laying claim to be king from every inch of the land, it made me think we were seeing the Republican primaries start over again.

 

 

Craster is a wildling, in that he lives north of the wall beyond any rule or authority. But, he isn't part of the 'organized' wildlings under Mance Rayder.

The woman with Stannis is Melisandre - she is a priestess of Rhi'lor, the Lord of light (God of flame and shadow). He is not one of the traditional 7 gods of Westeros. She is from the Eastern kingdom of Asshai (near where Dany is). And, yes, she has sorcerous powers. But, I'd say her greatest power is the sway she holds over Stannis.

There was a debate? :)

I would agree that the episode just flew by tonight. Liked the pirate associate of Davos (don't recall his name - despite it being suited for songs and glory. ) The writing, and the performances conveyed the relationship (between Davos and the pirate) with good economy of effort. Nice to see Arya again.


Better yet, having the disgruntled client kiss said mouth moments later with the client unaware of what had just commenced. Not that the client would have any illusions about whom he was kissing; merely the timing of the events.

- Walter.

I think Salladhor Saan is actually cooler in the episode than he is in the books!

 

I'm really glad Davos is getting some early screen time.  I remember when A Clash of Kings first came out, and a lot of fans hated the fact that new POV characters were introduced (seems odd to say now, seeing as how it's one of Martin's greatest assets), and the "action" was moving away from Stark/Lannister-centric.  Davos has always been a favourite character of mine--along with Jaime--and I'm happy that the show is really playing up his loyalty to Stannis.  In fact, even Stannis seems cooler that he does in the books (though he's pretty badass).

 

Liked the stuff with Arya, Gendry, Lommy, and Hot Pie.  I especially liked the seemingly-throwaway line at the start, with Lommy talking about "yielding" :)

 

Dany's screen time is a little sparse two episodes in, so I'm guessing an upcoming episode will feature her quote prominently.

 

Also, Jaqen H'ghar!  "Valar morghulis," bitches!